Undoubtedly the best move made by the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason was the decision to select Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Bowers instantly transformed the Raiders offense amidst a record-breaking season, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in his first year in the league. The amazing season is even more impressive given the limitations of the offense last season, mostly in the form of mediocre quarterback play and a league-worst running game. Now, Bowers hopes to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and continue his rise towards becoming the best tight end in the NFL.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are in the envious position of having one of their offensive engines at such a low price.
Bowers’s early success puts the Raiders in a great position financially.
On his All-Bargain Team highlighting some of the best deals in the NFL, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin gave the Raiders some representation by adding Bowers.
“The tight end market isn’t the most robust, so even as a top-15 pick in 2024, Bowers isn’t hauling in a lucrative sum. He was, however, a bona fide star for the Raiders out of the gate, easily emerging as Las Vegas’ most trustworthy pass outlet with a rookie-record 112 catches. That volume may not be sustainable if the silver and black go run-heavy under Pete Carroll, but who cares? He looks like an elite No. 1,” wrote Benjamin.
As phenomenal as Bowers’s rookie campaign was, there is reason to believe he can be even better in year two.
The additions of Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty to shore up the Raiders’ biggest weaknesses on offense should provide serious help for Bowers. Despite the impressive stats, Bowers’s five touchdowns in his rookie year were emblematic of who was throwing him the football, so adding Smith should see an uptick in that number. Even if new head coach Pete Carroll implements a more run-heavy scheme, that would open the door for Bowers to avoid being the sole center of attention for opposing defenses, potentially keeping him in favorable matchups.
Bowers has made a massive impact already in such a short time, and the Raiders are glad they have at least a few years to make good on their tremendous deal.
