Raiders select TE Brock Bowers in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

Mike Moraitis

Raiders select TE Brock Bowers in first round of 2024 NFL Draft image

With the No. 13 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

The pick of Bowers is a surprise. The Raiders didn't necessarily need to take a tight end after drafting Michael Mayer in the second round of the 2023 draft.

Nevertheless, the Raiders have landed themselves a pass-catcher who was a very talented playmaker in college, and one who figures to be a better weapon than Mayer is at the next level.

Here's more on Bowers, per the scouting report of Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Prolific pass-catching tight end with a rare blend of acceleration, speed, body control and hands that could breathe new life into a stale NFL offense. Bowers was a high-volume target at Georgia and led the team in receiving yards in all three of his college seasons. He plays with relentless pacing as a route runner, allowing him to beat man coverage. Also, he’s highly effective at exploiting zone pockets for first downs and chunk plays. Bowers’ secret sauce might be his ability to rip through tacklers and pile on yardage after the catch. He’ll be an adequate move blocker and give effort at the point of attack, but that is the one area where his game falls short of George Kittle’s, for comparison purposes. Bowers is an explosive athlete but lacks the premium measurables typically associated with early first-rounders. It might take a year for him to acclimate to defenders who are bigger, faster and longer, but he appears destined to become a highly productive NFL player with Pro Bowl upside.

While this was a surprise on the surface, general manager Tom Telesco made it clear that he wasn't just going to draft for need and had to keep the future in mind. This pick is a prime example of him doing just that.

Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis Photo

After cutting his teeth with Bleacher Report, Mike Moraitis has covered the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans for FanSided, and the Titans and New York Giants for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. On top of his duties with Sporting News, Mike is the managing editor and lead writer for Titans Wire.