The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team selected the best player available at that spot in the draft despite already having a promising tight end in Michael Mayer.
The Raiders’ bold decision worked in their favor as Bowers broke several records in his rookie season. He also made the Pro Bowl and recently shared his experience of being alongside some of the best players in the league.
Brock Bowers Opens Up on Experience at Pro Bowl
The NFC won the Pro Bowl for the third straight season, but the players from both conferences had fun. In a conversation with ESPN’s Ryan Clark, the Raiders’ star rookie shared how he felt being part of the Pro Bowl activities.
“It’s been pretty awesome,” Bowers said about his experience at his first Pro Bowl.
This past season, Bowers set the record for most receptions by a rookie tight end, most receiving yards by a rookie tight end, most receptions by a rookie in NFL history, and most receptions in a season by a player in Raiders franchise history.
The 22-year-old tight end has been highly regarded since his time in college with Georgia, but the magnitude of his success in his rookie season surprised many.
“You never know how your game is going to translate at the next level,” Bowers said about his rookie season. “I just went out there and played my game and it worked out pretty good, I think.”
The Raiders’ star is already looking forward to putting the work in the offseason to get even better. “I think part of it is just that first step, being more explosive,” Bowers added. “Just working on that kind of stuff, the small stuff in my game. Just getting better every day.”
He is arguably the best tight end already in the league, but his legacy will be determined by how consistently he can produce at that level.
Bowers Will Benefit From the Raiders’ New Coaching Staff
Bowers finished his rookie season with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games. He averaged 70.2 receiving yards per game, and the biggest testament to his success is that the tight end did it with below-average quarterback play on the team.
The Raiders have hired Pete Carroll as their new head coach and Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator. The new coaching staff will benefit Bowers, as he will now be put in a much better position to succeed.
Brock Bowers TD! His 5th of the season
📺: #LACvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/p4dizJZbjo— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025
If the Raiders also get a good quarterback via the draft or free agency, Bowers could break Kelce’s single-season record of most receiving yards for a tight end. In 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs star had 105 receptions, 1,416 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 15 games.
Since Tom Brady is involved in making decisions for the Raiders franchise, the team is expected to address the quarterback position. The Raiders have the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and are also projected to have the second-most cap space in the league. Currently, Las Vegas has the worst roster in the AFC West, but that could change if the front office utilizes its resources efficiently in the offseason.
