Brock Bowers has been selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
NFL @NFLWith the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 <a href="">@NFLDraft</a>, the <a href="">@Raiders</a> select Brock Bowers! <a href="">@NewEraCap</a><br><br>📺: <a href="">#NFLDraft</a> on NFLN/ESPN/ABC<br>📱: Stream on <a href="">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="">
Bowers is coming off three exceptional seasons at Georgia, winning the John Mackey Award in both 2022 and 2023 as the most outstanding tight end in the country. Although a high ankle sprain limited him to just 10 games in 2023, he still hauled in 56 receptions for 714 yards and six touchdowns.
Now, he'll be part of a Las Vegas offense that also includes Davante Adams, Michael Mayer, and Zamir White. Raiders fans were thrilled with the pick after Bowers fell out of the top 10:
Tristen Kuhn @KuhnTristenBowers was flat out BPA, the offense is going to be amazing (even with the QB situation)<br><br>Consensus top 5 player, yes the need at T and CB existed but when this level of player is available you draft them and make things work. Bowers + Mayer is an elite TE duo in an offense that…
Field Yates @FieldYatesDavante Adams and Jakobi Meyers at wide receiver along with Brock Bowers at tight end is nasty!
Levi Edwards @theleviedwardsIn any other draft, Brock Bowers would've been a top 5 pick. The <a href="">#Raiders</a> decided to go with the best player available.<br><br>Two-time national champion and two-time John Mackey award winner.
Kayla Pace @KP_on_TVGetting Bowers at 13 is such an insane steal, the Raiders FO must be doing backflips
PFF Las Vegas Raiders @PFF_RaidersBrock Bowers: The highest graded Tight End in the PFF era (94.1) 🔥 <a href="">
Vincent Bonsignore @VinnyBonsignoreLike it or hate it, but <a href="">@Raiders</a> stayed true to their board and BPA. On the coaching staff to make it work on the field, but Brock Bowers is a tremendous talent.
Although Las Vegas selected Mayer with a second-round pick in 2023, that didn't stop the front office from adding one of the most talented players in the 2024 draft. Head coach Antonio Pierce will likely find ways to utilize both tight ends in 12 personnel in order to give each of them significant playing time.
"Brock Bowers is a rare, explosive play threat from the tight end position," Klassen wrote in his scouting report. "Anytime he touches the ball, he could go for a house call."
While many expected the Raiders to target a quarterback, six signal-callers were already off the board by the time Las Vegas was on the clock. General manager Tom Telesco decided to pick the consensus top player available by choosing Bowers, with Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew currently set to battle for the starting quarterback job.
Las Vegas could still add a quarterback later in the draft, as the team owns seven more picks.
Regardless of the starter under center, Bowers should immediately contribute as a rookie and help the Raiders improve in their first full season under Pierce.
