Laddie Morse
Before we get into our subject for the day, last night, the Chiefs signed QB Carson Wentz to a one-year deal to play backup QB for Patrick Mahomes:
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On Sunday, March 31, Kyle Stackpole offered up a piece called, “2024 NFL Mock Draft: Former NFL GM and a 2-time Super Bowl champion go through the entire first round of picks” for CBS Sports, in which three people traded off taking picks in a mock draft. When it came to the last pick of the first round, one of them selected TE Brock Bowers for the Chiefs. Kyle Stockpile reported:
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“Will the top-four picks be quarterbacks for the first time in NFL history? If so, what order will they come off the board? And how will this impact the other positions, especially at wide receiver and offensive line where there are multiple blue-chip prospects? Former longtime Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, two-time Super Bowl champion Bryant McFadden and NFL Draft insider Ryan Wilson came together recently to try and answer those questions in a joint mock draft. The guys rotated picks and were allowed to trade, which resulted in one team moving up for a QB and another climbing the board for a pass-protector.”
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When all was said and done, TE Brock Bowers was selected for the Chiefs in that Mock. It was noted that Bowers would likely be off the board by the time the Chiefs selected at pick #32 but that if Bowers was available, he’d be an easy selection to make. Bowers is 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 243 lbs. and is generally accepted as the best tight end in this class.
While another playmaker sounds great for the Chiefs offense I have never thought Bowers would fall that far. However, if he does, then I’d hope that GM Brett Veach would at least consider Bowers. Any time the best player at his position is available to you, you must at least consider him. That would be the case with Bowers. Here’s Brock Bowers stats over the past three seasons:
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Adapted from Sports-reference.com – Photo Credit
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Apparently, Georgia used Bowers as a rusher on 193 plays, over a three-year span. 31 total TDs over 3 years is special stuff. The Chiefs would be getting another offensive playmaker for sure. Here’s a play that shows off Bower athleticism with a 78-yard TD (1:00):
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DrafTek ranks Bowers as the 4th best overall prospect, while CBS Sports ranks him as their 13th best, and then PFF ranks Bowers as their 7th best. If Bowers somehow fell to the Chiefs at #32, I’d expect Veach to pull the trigger. If not, there’s something we don’t know about Bowers. DraftBuzz says Bowers ran a 4.48 – 40 yard dash. Since Travis Kelce ran a 4.61 – 40 time, we’d have to conclude that Bowers is fast. Very fast for a big man.
In another report on this Mock Draft, John Dixon of ArrowheadPride says:
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“… it’s unlikely that Bowers — widely considered the top tight end prospect in this draft class — will still be available when the Chiefs go on the clock. The unusual nature of this particular mock makes Bowers’ availability possible — and reminds us that improbable things can (and do) happen during the first round.”
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Here’s Brock Bowers as a freshman on a 77-yard TD catch and run, while showing off his speed (0:26):
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As a freshman? Wow, indeed. If K.C. does decide they are interested in him, the question then becomes, should Veach trade up to get him, and if so, how many picks ahead should he trade up to get Brock Bowers?
You can count me as convinced that Brock Bowers is a playmaker and will be at the next level. The question is… how much of a playmaker? If he can be selected by K.C. and trained up in how to play the position by the best TE ever — Mr. Travis Kelce — he could one day be considered a truly legitimate replacement for him.
Part of the challenge of drafting players in this draft is the fall-off. At the TE position, the next best TE is probably Ja’Tavion Sanders of Texas at pick #46 by DrafTek (#69 CBS Sports and #51 PFF Prospects)… so drafting a TE who could one day replace the best ever, is not an easy proposition. That being said, if for some reason Bowers does fall into the late 20s, it would be my hope that Brett Veach would find a way to make a trade up to get Brock Bowers.
Bowers was a triple-option QB at Napa High School in California plus he also played basketball… and we know Andy Reid loves those kinds of guys. He also played both ways for his High School team at LB and TE. Bowers also entered his senior year as an All-American, but that season was canceled due to Covid. Bowers was recruited by Notre Dame as a LB, but he decided on Georgia where he could play TE. Bowers won a National Championship while at Georgia in the 2022 season.
What do you think?
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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