The Las Vegas Raiders started off the 2024 NFL Draft with a surprise pick, taking Georgia tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13 overall. It was a surprise, not because Bowers wasn't worthy of going that early, but rather because the Raiders figured to have a starting tight end already in 2023 second-round pick, Michael Mayer.
Teams taking a tight end in the first two rounds in back-to-back drafts is very rare. No team had done so in 20 years before the Raiders did it in 2023 and 2024 (the Raiders were the last team to do it in 2002-03). In addition, no team had used a top-40 pick on the position in consecutive drafts in a whopping 50 years.
In an article by The Athletic's Mike Sando getting opinions on the 2024 NFL Draft from anonymous executives around the league, two of them questioned the decision to take Bowers.
“I think they were stuck once Atlanta took (Michael) Penix and they were like, ‘Oh, crap, we might not get a quarterback to fall to us,’ and they scrambled and took that kid,” one exec said. “He is a good player, but a luxury item. I don’t like those kinds of picks unless you have everything else.”
Another executive sees the pick working out if the Raiders use him properly. However, he felt that teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, for example, were better fits for Bowers.
“Bowers is not like Dalton Kincaid where you can create separation in the normal flow of the offense,” another exec said. “You have to move him. He would be ideal in San Francisco or Miami. Whereas Kincaid is special at the top of the route, Bowers is one-cut, catch it, break three tackles and he’s gone. Hopefully, they have a good plan for him because he can do some really unique things with the ball.”
It wasn't all negative for the Raiders' selection, though. One exec believes the Raiders' offense could be tough to defend out of two tight end sets that feature Bowers and Mayer.
“If they are willing to (use 12-personnel), which nobody other than New England has really leaned into since they had (Aaron) Hernandez and (Rob Gronkowski), it’s great,” an exec said. “If you go out there in base, they are going to throw the ball on you. If you play nickel or dime, they will run the ball down your throat.”
The good thing about Bowers is his versatility, giving the Raiders multiple ways to use him. He can operate in-line and out of the slot, and he even lined up out wide during his college career, although I wouldn't expect much of that at the next level.
