If Les Snead and Sean McVay had their way, Brock Bowers would be a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Throughout the first round of the 2024 draft, the Rams tried to trade up for the Georgia tight end multiple times. They offered two different trades to the Jets at Nos. 10 and 11 overall after New York traded back one spot, and then they offered the Raiders the 19th pick and 52nd for Nos. 13 and 112.
The Raiders politely declined and took Bowers, securing the top tight end in the draft – and seemingly McVay’s top target in the class.
Now, the Rams will have to deal with the outstanding rookie on Sunday when the Raiders visit SoFi Stadium and McVay knows how difficult he is to deal with. His 384 yards receiving are 83 more than the next-closest tight end and now with Davante Adams out of the picture, he’s unquestionably their primary playmaker on offense.
“He’s a problem. He does a great job contributing to the blocking surface. He can play all over the core. They give him jet sweeps. He’s creating after the catch. All the things that made him such a great prospect, you’re seeing be brought to life early on in his NFL career. There isn’t anything that he can’t do,” McVay said.
The Raiders may be without Adams moving forward after trading him to the Jets, but McVay sees Bowers and Jakobi Meyers as two dangerous pass catchers for quarterback Aidan O’Connell.
They’ll both present challenges for the Rams’ defensive backs, particularly when Bowers gets the ball in his hands.
“I’m seeing a guy that has a complete game and I think they do a great job of trying to feature him in a variety of ways,” McVay said of Bowers. “I expect them to have Meyers back, who I have tremendous respect for. They’ve got tough backs so it’s a great challenge. Brock, you flip on the tape, you look at it, and he jumps off the screen at you.”
The Raiders are by no means a top team but they did stun the Raiders earlier this season and the defense has stood tall on third down with one of the lowest conversion rates allowed in the NFL.
It’s a game the Rams need to win but they shouldn’t take Las Vegas lightly, especially if Bowers heats up.