Brock Bowers better than Sam Laporta? The former Georgia player is expected to innovate an important position in the modern NFL.
Brock Bowers – Tight End – 21 years old – Junior – Georgia
Height: 1m92
Weight: 104 kg
2023 stats: 10 games, 56 receptions, 6 carries, 742 yards, 7 touchdowns
Estimated draft position: Top 10
NFL Comparison: George Kittle
The 2021 season marks the birth of Brock Bowers to the rank of national star. The 1st year tight end at the time had an exceptional season, marked by a university final where he was decisive. The 2022 season confirms its blossoming with a 2nd consecutive title, marked by several decisive plays, and an ability to always be valuable for its quarterback at the time, Stetson Bennet (QB, Rams).
In 2023, he is less impressive, and even missed his first games in his college career. This does not prevent the two-time winner of the title of best university tight end from being considered one of the best players of this vintage. Complete and astonishing in his way of playing, his determination and his mentality will perhaps take him to other heights.
During his college career, he scored 26 receiving touchdowns, surpassing another college and NFL legend, former Bengals AJ Green (23).
Strong points
- Playmaker
- Yards after receipt
- Versatile
The first line of his qualities brings together everything that Brock Bowers can do. The tight end knows how to do the simple things that the position requires. Catching balls is his main one. During his college career, Brock Bowers released less than 5% on balls thrown in his direction. His reception technique is sometimes astonishing as it seems easy in the simplest as well as the most complicated situations.
His other characteristic is his way of using his body well and knowing what it is capable of doing. After the reception, there remains a real threat. Often sought after, he will often try to avoid one or more tackles to gain additional yards. It is often said of him that he is a cheat code for defenses. This means that Brock Bowers is too fast for a linebacker, and too tall, or even stronger, than a safety.
Being versatile for a tight end remains a quality. But, if we're talking about a player who knows how to catch and block, you're on the wrong track. Brock Bowers does some unnatural things for the position, since he also knows how to run. All this efficiently. Don't be surprised if you see him running into knockdown plays to trap the defense next season.
Weak points
- Athletic
- Separation
- Blocker
After describing all his qualities, it is forgetting that Brock Bowers has a main fault that will accompany him until his arrival in the NFL. Yes, the tight end is not an athletic monster. This defect should be corrected fairly quickly when he trains with the professionals.
If he wants to become an even more threatening tight end, Bowers is going to have to improve the fluidity of his movements. Its separation capacity is not optimal. In college, he often used his physique to win receptions. But, in the NFL, he will face less permissive and stronger defenses, and he could suffer from it.
Finally, Brock Bowers could help produce a runner with his blocking ability. On the other hand, this is not its primary quality. Against rougher and more agile defenses, his hand placement can seem messy, which sometimes leads to negative play. If he lands on a team where the ground game predominates, he will have to work on his technique in this area.
Possible destinations
Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks
Looking for an additional weapon for the quarterback, this is the objective of the teams that manage to select the tight end from Georgia. This is the case for the Chargers, where Justin Herbert will probably enjoy having a target of this stature. Same thing for the Seahawks, in which he would form an exceptional quartet with the trio at the receiver position.
For others, it could be a next primary target. This forgets that the Titans and the Broncos still have DeAndre Hopkins and Courtland Sutton respectively. But apart from them, it's a desert in terms of air threats.
It's not really the same for the Colts who could lose Michael Pittman as a priority target. The selection of Brock Bowers could compensate for this loss. Still, even with Pittman's return, the need at this position is one of the priorities for Shane Steichen's team. But it would take a combination of circumstances for the player to go down to choice number 15. Unless there is an exchange to go higher…
