Raiders Brock Bowers Selection Deemed 'Biggest Head Scratching' Pick Of NFL Draft

Author:
Kevin Borba
Publish date:
May 9, 2024 12:35 PM EDT

In this story:

Las Vegas Raiders

In any other year, drafting a player that is viewed as the best overall player in the NFL draft would be a huge win, but that appears to not be the case for the Las Vegas Raiders.

They used the No. 13 pick on Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who when healthy, was viewed by many as the best overall player in college football. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound freak athlete was used in a multitude of ways in college, as he does things that most tight ends can't even fathom like being a part of the run game as a ball carrier.

Terrion Arnold, a cornerback from the University of Alabama, shows off his Detroit Lions jersey with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he was picked in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft at the NFL draft theater in Detroit on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

He departed Georgia with 175 catches for 2,538 yards and 26 scores, while also adding five rushing touchdowns. For reference, he had more catches and career receiving yards than the No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison, and more touchdowns than No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze. Regardless, many do not agree with the Raiders' selection of Bowers with one ESPN analyst calling it the biggest head-scratching pick of the draft.

Apr 26, 2024; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers speaks to the media at Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, NV. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports — Apr 26, 2024; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers speaks to the media at Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, NV
Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

In a recent ESPN article, analysts identified picks that they thought were questionable, and fantasy and sports betting analyst Liz Loza said she was "stupefied" by the choice.

"Tight end Brock Bowers to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13. I was stupefied by the Raiders' selection of Bowers, and it's not because of his talent level. He's a potential generational talent with a do-it-all skill set who was expected to come off the board before the first half of the first round. However, Las Vegas spent an early second-round pick on Michael Mayer just a year ago and entered the draft with holes all along the offensive line. In the end, I suppose, the value Bowers presented was too great to pass on," explained Loza.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew II (10) smiles as he leaves the field Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, after beating the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

What we have heard about the Raiders draft process may be a bit concerning to some fans. They obviously missed on getting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. who in hindsight they could have traded up for. Just yesterday, former Alabama corner Terrion Arnold who was taken with the No. 24 overall pick revealed that he was told by the Raiders it was a "coin-toss" decision between him and Bowers. This could either mean they weren't the most confident in the pick, or left a trade on the table.

Regardless, even if Bowers wasn't the intended target, landing one of the best tight end prospects of the past decade certainly isn't the worst-case scenario. It's just one more weapon for the quarterback this season, and could end up developing into one of the best in the league by the time their new franchise quarterback enters the fold.