One of the more surprising picks in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft was the Las Vegas Raiders taking Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. The team selected promising tight end Michael Mayer in the second round last season so the position was not viewed as one of need.
But despite being projected to go in the top-10, Bowers somehow slid to the Raiders at 13 and the team felt the talent was too good to pass up and simply went with the player who was likely highest on their draft board.
Even Bowers himself was surprised to hear the Raiders were drafting him but was also extremely excited to receive the call, via Levi Edwards of Raiders.com:
“I was shocked,” Bowers said in his introductory press conference with Las Vegas media. “I wasn’t really totally sure what was happening, but when that call came up and it said Las Vegas, Nevada, I was juiced.”
Bowers was an absolute monster at Georgia, winning the Mackey Award for the country’s top tight end in 2022 and 2023 and being a consensus All-American last season. In three years with the Bulldogs, Bowers totaled 175 receptions for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Georgia moved Bowers all around the field in different formations, and the rookie believes that versatility will serve him well with the Raiders:
“I feel like I can be used in a multitude of ways,” Bowers said. “At Georgia, I was moved all around. They put me in the backfield sometimes, tight end, slot, outside receiver. So, I feel like versatility is a big part of my game and I’m just excited to see what’s in store for this next year.”
Making things even better for Bowers is that he was born and raised in Napa, California, and thus grew up watching the Raiders so to be drafted by them now is a full-circle moment in his eyes:
“It’s kind of cool how things come full circle like that and I remember going to watch them practice,” Bowers said. “It’s cool how it all comes around.”
The key now will be to hit the ground running as the Raiders have added another offensive weapon for what could be an explosive group in 2024.
Raiders GM Tom Telesco looking for ‘more than just talent’ with draft picks
Brock Bowers is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in this draft class, regardless of position. But that likely wasn’t the sole reason the Raiders took him with the 13th overall pick.
New general manager Tom Telesco recently spoke about his process when selecting players, noting that he looks for ‘more than just talent.‘ In recalling why he took Justin Herbert and Joey Bosa during his time with the Chargers, Telesco noted how hard each competed in the drills when he was scouting them and just taking note of the intangibles that each possessed.
It helped him make a number of excellent picks then, and now, hopefully, he has done the same with his first pick in charge of the Raiders and for the remainder of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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