Forming successful sports projects will always involve risky bets, but Las Vegas Raiders They seem to have made a correct decision with the choice of Brock Bowers with the 13th shift of the 2024 Draft in April.
The rookie tight end has had a promising start in the NFL with 15 receptions for 156 yards, placing him as the leader among all tight ends after two weeks this season. A combination of talent and discipline that has borne its first fruits on the team and that can undoubtedly give greater dimensions to the aerial attack of Las Vegas.
A well-made selection
When it comes to drafting rookies, there are different factors to consider: from looking for corner pieces on both sides of the ball, filling those positions where talent is lacking or going for the best player available. That last one was the decision of Antonio Pierce in his first year as full-time head coach and Tom Telesco, who arrived in 2024 as general manager.
The decision was well taken, since There were no quarterbacks available within that pickand he was the highest rated and most available player. Letting him go to another team was not going to be an option.
The only issue that was questioned was that the Raiders had already drafted a player at that same position a year earlier. Michael Mayer was elected on the 35th roundin the second round… but it was during the management of Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels as manager and coach, respectively. The idea was to strengthen the offensive arsenal and have two caliber tight ends instead of just one.
It’s certainly early to talk about Bowers’ impact on the NFL, but the Georgia native shows why he’s been considered a top prospect since 2021, in addition to his recognition as the best college tight end in 2022 and 2023. The two-time champion of football with the Bulldogs broke the record that a legend like Mike Ditka held for 63 years: most yards by a rookie tight end in his first two games, when he recorded 148 yards in two starts with the Chicago Bears in 1961.
He moved the chains
Numbers are important, both in influencing the scoreboard and keeping a drive alive. Bowers was instrumental in the 26-23 win over Baltimore, finishing with nine receptions on those same occasions for 98 yards, especially when he was involved more in the attack.
In the first half he was barely targeted for three receptions and 16 yards; but it was in the third and final quarter that he played an important role in the attack, with six receptions and 82 yards, with a 27-yard reception that got his team to the Baltimore 1-yard line and allowed Alexander Mattison’s 1-yard run to bring the Raiders within three points; he was targeted three more times for 41 yards and Las Vegas tied the game at 23 when quarterback Gardner Minshew sent wide receiver Davante Adams to the field.
Great expectations
There are 15 games left, but if he keeps up his pace, Minshew is expected to target him around 145 times this season (he’s been targeted 17 times), which could put him above 100 receptions. Last year, no tight end was more sought after than Evan Ingram (Jacksonville Jaguars), as he was thrown the ball 143 times and converted 114 receptions for 963 yards (8.4 average) and four touchdowns.
To date, no tight end has been targeted more than Zach Ertz was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, as he was the target of Carson Wentz and Nick Foles’ passes 156 times. Ertz led the team that season in receptions (116), yards (1,163) and touchdowns (8), except he had been in the league for six years.
While it’s difficult to maintain a pace as forceful as the one he had in Week 2 against Baltimore, Bowers has the potential to take pressure off Minshew and Adams while also being one of the most impactful tight ends this year.
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RGS
