With the 13th pick in the first round, the Las Vegas Raiders shockingly selected tight end Brock Bowers from Georgia.
In the 2023 season, Bowers had 56 catches for 714 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Raiders are getting a phenomenal pass catcher in the passing game. He was widely regarded amongst draft experts as one of the top weapons in this draft.
Adding Brock Bowers to an offense featuring Davante Adams and Zamir White will make the Las Vegas Raiders one of the top teams to watch next season. The Raiders also selected tight end Michael Mayer in the 2023 NFL draft, setting them up to have a dynamic duo at the tight end position.
The Las Vegas Raiders Took Best Player Available
After seeing Bo Nix get drafted one pick before them, every first-round projected quarterback was gone by the 13th pick. Brock Bowers was the best player on the board. While the Raiders had needs at offensive tackle and cornerback, they decided to go after the best player on the board. Bowers was not expected to fall out of the top 10.
Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are fighting for the quarterback job. Regardless of who’s starting, they will have potentially the best-receiving tight end in the league in Brock Bowers. While Michael Mayer was drafted in the 2nd round last season, that should never stop you from drafting a potentially generational tight end.
Adding Bowers to the offense gives both quarterbacks a reliable option to throw to. The two teams in the 2024 Super Bowl had the two best tight ends in the league, Travis Kelce and George Kittle. It’s important to have a reliable pass-catching tight end. Bowers could even play outside at wide receiver, giving the Raiders more flexibility at multiple positions.
2024 Las Vegas Raiders Draft Outlook
While the Las Vegas Raiders offense looks improved with another weapon to throw to, the defense is still the stronger unit. Even after passing at drafting a cornerback to pair with Jack Jones, the Raiders defense looks intimidating in a division that just added another quarterback to the mix.
The Raiders offense is lagging at the moment when compared to the Chiefs. Offensive tackle still needs to be addressed after passing on it at the 13th pick. Cornerback is also still a need if the team wishes to address that in future rounds.
The team still has plenty of picks in other rounds to add to what’s already there. Quarterback is still a need as well, as the price to move up for Jayden Daniels was too much. Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Tom Telesco has a lot of work to do moving forward.
About the Author
Alex is a writer at Total Apex Sports and Total Apex Gaming. He’s a loyal fan of many teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco Giants. You can find him on X at @alex_furtotti
