The Las Vegas Raiders may have gotten the steal of the 2024 NFL Draft as they took Georgia tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13.
Bowers was by far and away the best tight end in his draft class, and it was a surprise that he fell down the board to the Raiders, who were happy to take him where they did. Even though Las Vegas already had Michael Mayer on the team, pairing him with Bowers gives them the best young tight end tandem in the league.
Now, Bowers will get a chance to show off what he can do on the field during training camp. Although he has yet to take a snap in the league, he’s expected to be a day-one starter because of his rare receiving ability at his position.
Nate Hobbs has gotten to see Bowers up close during practice and had nothing but high praise for the rookie.
Nate Hobbs on if he was shocked by Brock Bowers’ speed: “Absolutely. I had no clue. Usually, I can get on a tight end and I can let off. Jog a little bit and turn it on. But with him, you gotta be locked in because he’s different. He’s a physical specimen.”
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) July 30, 2024
Hobbs also believes that both Bowers and Mayer will be key to the Raiders’ offense during the 2024 season.
Nate Hobbs: “I think our tight ends are going to be huge for us. … I think we got whole lot of versatility right there.” #Raiders
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) July 30, 2024
Bowers isn’t the normal tight end prospect as he’s quick and fluid for his size and is a great route runner who has a knack for getting open. His ability to create space and separation downfield is special and makes him a mismatch nightmare for opposing defensive backs.
Hobbs is one of the better corners in the league, so for him to say he has to be locked in from the start of his route speaks volumes. Bowers can play anywhere along the line of scrimmage, so head coach Antonio Pierce and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy have an opportunity to get creative with how they deploy their latest weapon.
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