Brock Bowers — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Bowers is going to be tricky to place in mock drafts. The talent suggests he should be a top-five pick, but the debate about positional value could push him down as far as the Colts at No. 15.

Picking a top draft choice for a team with no GM and no head coach is a bit of a fanciful exercise, but we can at least build a framework for projection while we await the hire. It figures that anyone who takes over this team will be focused on maximizing Justin Herbert's talent, so that leads us to an offensive weapon. In addition, at least two of the Chargers' top coaching candidates - Jim Harbaugh and Ben Johnson - rely heavily on great Tight End play. So it's reasonable to think that either would spend a high pick on the clear TE1 in this year's class, Georgia's Brock Bowers.

Bowers has generational speed, hands and elusiveness and has produced at an unprecedented level at the highest level of college football. He promises to be a foundational piece regardless of who is drawing up and calling the plays.

Mike Williams is 29 years old coming off a season in which he was limited to three games. His salary cap hit for the 2024 campaign is north of $32 million. If Los Angeles, which has $-44 million in salary cap space when the new league year rolls over, moves on from him, it would save $20 million. The addition of Bowers, a California native, absorbs some of that loss.

Chicago sends its third-round pick (No. 75 overall) to New York in this slide back, and the Giants get Brock Bowers in the process. Win.

The Jets need help at wide receiver, and enlisting the services of the draft's top receiving tight end in Brock Bowers would do wonders.

The Chargers' draft outlook will certainly change based on upcoming GM and head coach hires. Regardless, the offense needs more firepower.

Many will scoff at tight end this high, but with his movements and pass-catching skills, Bowers is more offensive weapon than true tight end. As long as the Chargers have a plan for how to use his talent, Bowers should thrive if paired with Justin Herbert.

Aaron Rodgers looks like the plan moving forward in New York. Unlike Green Bay over the years, adding an offensive skill player like Brock Bowers to boost the offense would be good process from GM Joe Douglas. One of the most refined in-line and flex talents to enter the league in some time, Bowers is an "immediate mismatch nightmare" per an NFC Scout and would impact both the run and passing game for the Jets no matter who's under center moving forward.

It should be said that Brock Bowers could be considered the second-best overall player in the 2024 NFL Draft. His talent is impeachable, and he's shown he can not only be the fastest but also the strongest pass catcher on the field whenever he plays.

Positional value will drive him down the draft board, and the New Orleans Saints get a surefire starter and potential Pro Bowl tight end in the middle of Round 1. Combine that with the fact that Bowers is also an above-average blocker, and you got yourself a no-brainer.

No matter the new coach or GM, the Chargers will need to provide franchise QB Justin Herbert upgraded weaponry. Bowers is a top-3 talent, and the most heralded prospect at the position since Kyle Pitts in 2021. The two-time Mackey Award winner has produced 175 receptions for 2,538 yards and 26 TDs in three seasons for the two-time champion Bulldogs. Pitts had 100 receptions for 1,492 yards and 18 TDs in three seasons at Florida.

Drafting a tight end inside the top 10 picks usually isn't a good idea, but this fit might be too good for the Los Angeles Chargers to pass up.

Brock Bowers is one of the best tight end prospects ever to enter the NFL Draft, and he is a terror after the catch. Pairing him with Justin Herbert would give the Chargers their version of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

Bowers is a top 10 player in this draft, but could the positional value of tight end lead to a slide? If that happens, Shane Steichen's offense gets a complete steal. He's as dynamic as they come at the position with arguably the best hands in the draft. He's also held his own as a blocker throughout his time at Georgia.

Drafting Bowers would be a tacit admission the Chargers understand the need to get Justin Herbert more support. It would also give Quentin Johnston a little extra cover after a difficult rookie season, which is why the tight end gets the call here instead of a dynamic wideout like Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers.

Bowers is a prototype at his position, a player with Vernon Davis-type athleticism and a powerful enough frame to add value as a blocker. Los Angeles is on the brink of a new era with Brandon Staley deposed and Austin Ekeler a pending free agent. Bowers would add a little extra young star power to the offense — and give Herbert some extra ammunition should his defense continue to drop him right in the middle of a firefight each Sunday.

Coach Shane Steichen did a great job with this Colts team after losing rookie QB Anthony Richardson four games into the season, but Indianapolis should keep building around him (especially if free agent receiver Michael Pittman Jr. doesn't return). This pick is simply about Bowers being the best player on the board, even if tight end is not an immediate position of need. Bowers is a game-changer who led all FBS tight ends in receiving yards after contact (494) and finished second in forced missed tackles (18) despite being limited to 10 games. He can play in-line, flexed out or even in the backfield.

A meaningless Week 17 win prevents them from picking the best tackle in the draft, and the top three may be off the board. Perhaps they trade down, grab more picks and have more bites at the OT apple.