With all the top-rated quarterback prospects taken before the Las Vegas Raiders went on the clock, they went with Brock Bowers as the 13th overall selection. It’s hard to question their pick because the tight end from Georgia is a two-time John Mackey Award winner as the nation’s top player at his position.
Bowers has proven the Raiders right with their choice. After their Week 16 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bowers has 101 receptions for 1,067 yards and four touchdowns. He had 99 receiving yards against the Jaguars, a yard short of what could have been his third 100-yard game.
Bowers had his first 100-yard game against the Miami Dolphins (13 receptions, 126 yards, one touchdown). He had another one versus the Kansas City Chiefs (ten catches, 140 yards, one touchdown).
1000 receiving yards
— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2024
100 catches
Two milestones for the rookie Brock Bowers today pic.twitter.com/TQT4K8xf9L
In addition to those games, there were games when Bowers finished with 93 (vs. Los Angeles Rams), 97 (vs. Denver Broncos), and 98 (vs. Baltimore Ravens) yards. What’s more impressive is that Bowers accumulated these stats despite having three starting quarterbacks this season.
Desmond Ridder started against the Jaguars, while Aidan O’Connell had five starts. Gardner Minshew had nine starts before suffering a season-ending collarbone injury. Therefore, imagine how much more Bowers could have had in his rookie season with a better quarterback.
-Lance Fernandez