Brock Bowers’s rookie season went even beyond the most optimistic of expectations.
Projected as a quality second option behind Davante Adams at the start of the season, Bowers proceeded to become the focal point of the Las Vegas Raiders offense, especially after Adams was traded to the New York Jets midseason. Ultimately, Bowers broke records for his amazing play, including a receiving yards record for a rookie tight end that stood for 63 years. The fact Bowers performed as well as he did, despite the Raiders’ limitations at quarterback and opposing defenses keying in on him, suggests that an even stronger second season is on the horizon.
Bowers certainly has the attention of one of the best tight ends to play the game in recent history.
A future Hall of Famer has nothing but praise for Bowers.
On the May 30 edition of Pardon My Take, former tight end and NFL analyst Greg Olsen discussed what he saw in Bowers throughout his time at Georgia and with the Raiders.
“He’s amazing. I remember the first time I watched him play, you saw a 6’5 white guy playing in the SEC running through the secondary and nobody was catching him,” Olsen said. “That is just unique, to be that tall, that long, super linear, in that conference, and you look like the fastest guy on the field. If he was able to come out of the draft after his second year… He would have been a top 10 pick.”
With Geno Smith providing a massive upgrade over Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell at quarterback and first-round rookie Ashton Jeanty providing instant juice to the running game, expectations for Bowers are much higher now.
“I’ll be interested to see how that plays out now with the new regime and Pete Carroll,” Olsen continued. “Geno loves his tight ends, but they are going to run the ball… As far as just a talent, I think he’s the best tight end prospect to come out of the draft in the last 10-15 years. His rookie year matched it, if not exceeded it, which was pretty incredible.”
While Bowers has much more talent around him than he did a season ago, he is still going to be a top playmaker in a hopefully-improved offense.
