An unlikely but fascinating scenario played out during the NFL Wire Network’s latest mock draft: What if Georgia tight end Brock Bowers fell to the Green Bay Packers at No. 25 overall in the first round of the 2024 draft?
Bowers is the No. 7 overall prospect in the draft class for both Pro Football Focus and Daniel Jeremiah, so there’s an exceedingly good chance that the Georgia tight end will be long gone by the time the Packers are on the clock later this month. Most mock drafts have Bowers going in the top 10.
But prospects unexpectedly tumble every year, and Bowers is on the smaller side (6-3, 243) at his position and wasn’t a dominant run blocker inline — so there could be hesitation from teams about investing a first-round pick on a tight end, which remains a boom-or-bust position with a difficult transition to the pro game. Only a handful of tight ends are true game changers at the NFL level. A recent mock draft from Danny Kelly of The Ringer had Bowers falling as far as No. 23 overall.
The Packers don’t need a tight end. They invested a second-round pick in Luke Musgrave and a third-round pick in Tucker Kraft during last year’s draft and then claimed undrafted free agent Ben Sims, providing a young and versatile group at a key position in Matt LaFleur’s offense. Using a first-round pick on Bowers is a tough sell in terms of allocation of resources; it’s difficult enough to find enough snaps for two tight ends, and the Packers have plenty of mouths to feed in the passing game already.
Passing up on a player like Bowers — who is still only 21 — would still be difficult given the opportunity. He was a dominant pass-catcher for three straight seasons in the SEC and brings George Kittle-like potential to the next level. The Packers are in good shape at tight end, but no team should ever pass up a blue-chip prospect, especially one with All-Pro potential. Matt LaFleur is creative enough to find ways of getting all his playmakers on the field. And a young quarterback like Jordan Love can never have enough weapons around him, especially one like Bowers who can line up all over the field and create on his own after the catch.
In the mock draft exercise, we took Bowers. Cooper DeJean and the other top offensive line and defensive back prospects were off the board. The talent at both cornerback and offensive tackle in this year’s draft class could be enough to push a player like Bowers down the board. Imagine what LaFleur could cook up with Musgrave — essentially a big slot — and Kraft, who had dominant moments as an inline tight end to end his rookie season. Bowers is a prolific weapon in the passing game who could do a little bit of everything, whether it’s handling some of the Josiah Deguara snaps or lining up in the slot or working with either Musgrave or Kraft in two-tight end sets.
Bowers almost certainly isn’t going to fall to No. 25. He’s too good, and the tight end draft class is not particularly good. A team — likely in the first half of the first round — will see Bowers as a difference-maker in the passing game and pull the trigger.
Do you think the Packers would take Bowers — a two-time national champion, two-time John Mackey Award winner and three-time All-American — if given the chance later this month?
Would the Packers take Brock Bowers if available at No. 25?
— The Packers Wire (@ThePackersWire) April 5, 2024