Expectations for Brock Bowers, Raiders' Top Rookies in Preseason

The Las Vegas Raiders should be commended for landing a pair of potential season-changing players during early free agency. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins might be the final addition needed to make Las Vegas' defense elite. Quarterback Gardner Minshew may help maximize a talent-laden receiving corps.

Minshew will, of course, have to first prove that he's an upgrade over incumbent starter Aidan O'Connell. Their competition is likely to be one of the biggest storylines of the Raiders' preseason.

Also during the preseason, the Raiders will see what sort of impact they can expect from their rookie class. While Wilkins and Minshew will help, they're not going to turn Las Vegas into a legitimate postseason threat by themselves.

Fans will get their first on-field look at Las Vegas' rookie class when its preseason opens on August 10.

Here, we'll examine the Raiders' top three 2024 draft selections and some realistic preseason expectations for each of them.

Round 1 (No. 13 Overall)

First-round pick Brock Bowers was a bit of a best-player-available selection. Las Vegas wasn't desperate for a new tight end after using a 2023 second-round pick on Michael Mayer and adding Harrison Bryant in free agency.

However, Bowers has already shown glimpses during the offseason of exactly why general manager Tom Telesco flipped the switch on taking him.

"Bowers could be seen doing a little bit of everything Wednesday morning," Levi Edwards of the team's official website wrote during OTAs. "The tight end lined up in multiple spots in similar fashion to what he was accustomed to doing at Georgia, showcasing both his pass catching and rushing abilities."

Both a versatile player and a legitimate playmaker, Bowers figures to be a dynamic chess piece for new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. He may not get the start in Las Vegas' preseason opener, however, as he's the rookie and Mayer is now the veteran.

That said, Bowers should wow during exhibition play. Other teams' backups will be ill-equipped to contain the Georgia product, which should lead to more than a couple of big plays.

The Raiders will likely have seen enough from Bowers to rest him in the preseason finale, but expect the rookie to make a few highlight reels in the first two weeks.

Round 2 (No. 44 Overall)

Like Bowers, rookie second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson should see plenty of playing time during the 2024 season. However, he may not get as many chances to flash during the preseason.

The Raiders placed Powers-Johnson on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to open training camp. While the rookie's undisclosed injury isn't believed to be significant, it could leave Las Vegas working him into the guard rotation slowly.

The good news is that the Oregon product is a high-upside prospect who should adjust quickly.

"He does have a few technical aspects of his game to clean up, but his physical traits and makeup should allow him to start right away at either center or guard without being dependent on scheme," Brandon Thorn of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.

Expect veteran addition Andrus Peat to get the starting nod early in the preseason, possibly in the first two games. However, Powers-Johnson should flash plenty of upside working against other teams' second units, should get the start at left guard in the finale and make a strong argument for supplanting Peat in the Week 1 lineup.

Round 3 (No. 77 Overall)

Third-round pick Delmar Glaze doesn't have as clear a path to early playing time as either Bowers or Powers-Johnson. Projected by some to be an interior lineman at the next level, the Maryland product primarily played tackle in college.

Glaze started 16 games apiece at left and right tackle for the Terrapins.

If Glaze earns a full-time role as a rookie, he may have to unseat incumbent right tackle Thayer Munford Jr. to do it. In the preseason, though, he's likely to get a little work at both tackle spots—possibly even with the starting lineup.

Like Powers-Johnson, left tackle Kolton Miller opened camp on the PUP list. His recovery from offseason shoulder surgery may require a bit more time off.

"Just following the process," Telesco said, per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.. "Hopefully in a couple of weeks we can kind of start working him in. But we'll play it by ear."

While fans probably want to see a starting tackle tandem of Munford and Glaze during the regular season, if Miller's absence gives the rookie more exhibition playing time, it could be a blessing.

Glaze has a strong technical foundation, which he should flash during the preseason. The experience he's likely to gain there will help him develop into a valuable swing tackle in 2024 and potentially open a path to unseating Munford on the right side.