Have you sent your thank-you bouquet to the new czar of Denver, Sean Payton? The Broncos claim to have duped the Las Vegas Raiders into staying put in this year’s draft, preventing Sin City from drafting quarterback Bo Nix. As a result, Las Vegas would “settle” for arguably the best overall talent in the class, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
So far, the Raiders have made out quite well.
GENIUS: #Broncos Sean Payton baited the #Raiders into not trading up for Bo Nix.
So, in the end you get the quarterback, he always wanted, Nix.
CHESS. NOT CHECKERS.
(Via Scoop City Pod, @RespectMyCos)
pic.twitter.com/CEhajmHNZe
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 20, 2024
Las Vegas Raiders rookie Brock Bowers is already setting records
Through his first two career games, Brock Bowers has caught 15 of his 16 targets. His receptions in this timeframe are more than any rookie tight end in, not just the history of the Raiders, but the entire league.
For a player who didn’t receive much attention at the start of Week 1, his performance was quite remarkable.
Many assumed the Georgia Bulldog would be wasted in Las Vegas due to the quarterback situation, but Gardner Minshew isn’t blind. When you see a large, wide open no. 89, deliver the ball. This couldn’t have been more evident during the Raiders’ Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Whenever the game felt as though it was slipping away, Minshew made sure to find either his All-Pro receiver Davante Adams or his soon-to-be All-Pro tight end Bowers.
Brock Bowers and the Raiders are crushing defenses with these 7 routes
Bowers will run drags or overs early, then break it out towards the sideline later into wide open space the clear out created
(overlook the random curl I threw in) pic.twitter.com/9iuQukVARf
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 17, 2024
The League Is Taking Notice
Most in the NFL knew Brock was a baller before being drafted, but no one could’ve foreseen the way his hands and route running have so quickly translated. Bowers not only leads the league in targets, catches, and yards, but he also has three plays of 20+ yards, the most in that category.
Pundits typically minimize Raider exceptionalism. Bowers has put a hard stop to that—even greats like Rob Gronkowski are giving the rookie his flowers.
the HIGHEST praise for @Raiders rookie Brock Bowers. Wow. @brockbowers17 @RobGronkowski @tae15adams pic.twitter.com/jDuUntgb3u
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) September 17, 2024
With offensive coordinator Luke Getsy realizing you should utilize your two best offensive options—shocking, I know—the accolades should only continue to pile up for the two-time Mackey Award winner.
The next hardware Bowers may hoist could be the Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/ Associated Press
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