The Las Vegas Raiders made what was no doubt one of the more controversial picks in the 2024 NFL Draft when they selected tight end Brock Bowers out of Georgia with pick No. 13.
It wasn't controversial because Bowers is a bad player, but rather because the Raiders had just drafted a starting tight end in 2023 in Michael Mayer, who was selected in the second round.
It is rare it is for a team to take a tight end that early two years in a row. In fact, the Raiders are the only team since 1974 to use a top-40 pick on a tight end two years in a row. Las Vegas is also the only team since 2002-03 to use a pick in the first two rounds on a tight end in back-to-back years.
The last team to do that? The Raiders.
Context is important here, though, when taking a look at the overall decision by general manager Tom Telesco. Bowers is not your average tight end and can be moved all over the field. He played more than half of his college snaps in the slot, while also seeing time in-line and out wide. That kind of versatility will allow the Raiders to deploy Mayer and Bowers together often, avoiding a logjam.
When asked about the addition of Bowers, Mayer is all for it and sees the potential the Raiders' offense has, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"100%," Mayer said when asked if he believes it'll be a smooth transition playing with Bowers. “Our job is to win ballgames. As an offense, we need to score touchdowns. And that’s what we’re going to do to the best of our ability.
"We can play a lot of 12 personnel, we can play a lot of 11, we've got a lot of weapons," Mayer added. "I'm excited, I already met Brock. Been practicing with Brock for a week, he's a great guy so it's been good."
Mayer heaped praise on Bowers' game and believes the two are similar in what they bring to the table.
"He's fast, he's got great hands, he can block, he can do it all," Mayer said of Bowers. "We can both do it all. I think we're going to be dangerous, I think we're going to have a great offense. It's going to be a lot of fun."
Mayer finished his rookie campaign with 27 receptions for 304 yards and two scores. He doesn't project to be quite the playmaker Bowers figures to be but remains a plus pass-catcher who should be a better blocker, making him a nice complement to the Raiders' newest offensive weapon.
