When it comes to skill players, the No. 1 drill that fans, scouts, and general managers seem to become enamored with is the 40-yard dash.
The more speed a team can get on the field is never a bad thing, especially when that speed can come from the tight end position.
After dealing with a hamstring issue for much of the offseason, Brock Bowers was still able to put up an impressive time in the 40-yard dash at his private pro day on April 10.
Brock Bowers’ Impressive Private Pro Day Performance
Bowers is widely regarded as one of the best tight-end prospects ever. Honestly, that’s been the case since the end of his freshman season.
He has been looked at as an NFL tight end for the past two seasons, and his pro day performance shouldn’t change the mind of scouts and general managers across the league ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
How Fast Is Bowers?
Bowers ran an unofficial time of 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash at his private pro day.
It’s worth noting this is an unofficial time and could be different, but this is still a very encouraging number for a tight end who has been battling a hamstring injury.
How Old Is Bowers?
Bowers enters the league as a younger prospect after spending three years at Georgia. He’s currently 21 years old, and he won’t turn 22 until late in his rookie season.
Bowers’ Latest Scouting Report
There is zero question that Bowers will be the first tight end off the board. The only question is, where does he go?
What sticks out about Bowers is his versatility. He is not a guy who just lines up on the line of scrimmage, blocks, and occasionally runs routes. Bowers can be lined up almost anywhere.
During his time at Georgia, the Bulldogs lined Bowers up in the slot, out wide, and even in the backfield. He scored multiple touchdowns on jet sweeps from the tight end position.
Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings has Bowers pegged as a guy who can hurt opposing defenses from anywhere.
MORE: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Brock Bowers
“With Bowers, don’t get hung up on the positional designation,” Cummings said. “He’s not just a tight end. He’s a weapon — and his ability to separate, be utilized in dozens of ways, and tear apart defensive looks within the three-level framework will make him a true offensive focal point.
“He’s a true size/speed freak with the long-strider range to chew up space vertically and destroy tackling angles in space. Beyond his sheer speed and explosiveness — both of which are hyper-elite positional traits — Bowers also has superb cutting ability, foot speed, and flexibility — tools he weaponizes as a route runner and release artist, as well as a RAC dynamo off motions and screens.”
Bowers has had to deal with different injuries throughout his career, but he appears to be healthy and ready to go right now.
Why Did Bowers Not Run the 40-Yard Dash at the NFL Combine?
With Bowers, he suffered a hamstring injury during his prep for the NFL Combine, which is why he didn’t participate.
While some prospects truly need the Combine as a way to showcase their ability, for Bowers, there was nothing he could really do to improve his stock.
KEEP READING: Top TEs in the 2024 NFL Draft
He has been on the NFL’s radar since early in his freshman year at Georgia, and teams already know the type of player he is.
Making sure he is healthy and ready to go once he is drafted was far more important for Bowers than showing how fast he can run a 40-yard dash.
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