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TE Brock Bowers, LV (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
Hankmoody
Footballguy
This resonates with me a lot. Watching him I always marveled at how good the OC was at designing ways to get him the ball, and this may not translate to the NFL. Does he run good routes, does he find open seams in the defense, does he read the defender and make correct option route reads?
Hankmoody
Footballguy
Good. Jimmy Graham didn't win me any fantasy games with Points Per Blitz Pickup.
massraider
Footballguy
He wins after the catch. Best YAC TE ever. EVER. They threw him screens because the best way to get the ball to the best YAC TE ever is with screens.
He's so low to the ground when he runs, and bounces off guys.
I think everything he does will translate. I don't care if he runs a 4.49 or 4.62, because he's plenty fast to score after a CB bounces off him. Speed isn't his game.
He's so low to the ground when he runs, and bounces off guys.
I think everything he does will translate. I don't care if he runs a 4.49 or 4.62, because he's plenty fast to score after a CB bounces off him. Speed isn't his game.
Chaos34
Footballguy
whoever drafts him should use him the same way. harrison, nabers and bowers popped off the screen on saturdays like no others in this draft.
Just an FYI he's going as TE7 in FFPC TE premium leagues but a better way to say it is right in the mix with Engram, Kittle and Njoku, all going within half a round of one another.
Not sure what your expectations were but this is not a case of people blowing off a rookie TE in redraft. Probably the Laporta effect.
I'd add this format would push him up more then most even relative to other TE's, or at least it does for me, because the YAC ability in a 1.5 PPR format should present him a lot of easier touches to produce and because these are national type contests the urge to hit upside is bigger.
massraider
Footballguy
As an 18-year-old true freshman, TE Brock Bowers averaged a team-high 58.8 YPG. That was ____ more than that of his following teammates:
1.7X that of WR Jermaine Burton (proj. R3)
2.0X that of WR Ladd McConkey (proj. R2)
2.1X that of WR Adonai Mitchell (proj. R1)
4.2X that of TE Darnell Washington (R3)
1.7X that of WR Jermaine Burton (proj. R3)
2.0X that of WR Ladd McConkey (proj. R2)
2.1X that of WR Adonai Mitchell (proj. R1)
4.2X that of TE Darnell Washington (R3)
rockaction
Footballguy
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Arthur Smith and a highly drafted TE? Fantasy football nerds all panic in unison.
Despyzer
Lousy Attention Whore
It's only happened about a half dozen times in the last fifty years, so it's not a great sample size to work with. But you don't like TJ Hockensen or Vernon Davis?
LawFitz
Footballguy
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | Name | Team | College |
| 2021 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Kyle Pitts | Falcons | Florida |
| 2019 | 1 | 8 | 8 | T.J. Hockenson | Lions | Iowa |
| 2014 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Eric Ebron | Lions | North Carolina |
| 2006 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Vernon Davis | 49ers | Maryland |
| 2004 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Kellen Winslow | Browns | Miami (FL) |
| 1996 | 1 | 9 | 9 | Rickey Dudley | Raiders | Ohio State |
| 1995 | 1 | 9 | 9 | Kyle Brady | Jets | Penn State |
| 1984u | 1 | 8 | 8 | Paul Bergmann | Colts | UCLA |
| 1980 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Junior Miller | Falcons | Nebraska |
| 1978 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Ken MacAfee | 49ers | Notre Dame |
| 1974 | 1 | 7 | 7 | J.V. Cain | Cardinals | Colorado |
| 1973 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Charle Young | Eagles | USC |
| 1 | 7 | 7 | Paul Seymour | Bills | Michigan | |
| 1972 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Riley Odoms | Broncos | Houston |
| 1970 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Steve Zabel | Eagles | Oklahoma |
| 1969 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Ted Kwalick | 49ers | Penn State |
| 1961 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Mike Ditka | Bears | Pittsburgh |
Not a fun list to look at.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
You could honestly do that for every single position though. No such thing as a sure thing.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
It took them both about 4 years to really hit their stride…which we literally know about TEs which is why taking them so early is a waste of the rookie savings.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Other positions have hits and also the upside, cap savings and immediacy of hitting at other positions is bigger.
Other than maybe Pitts, who went to a team with embarrassingly bad play calling and QB play, and he still had 1,000 yards as a rookie with Matt Ryan, I think Bowers is the best TE prospect of all-time.
Anywhere outside the top-4 is reasonable in my opinion.
I've always hated the logic of, let's take a worse prospect because he plays a more important position. I get it at QB, but anywhere else is foolish in my opinion. Its not a coincidence that the final 4 teams last season all had top TEs (Kelce, Kittle, Andrews, LaPorta) a top TE is worth every bit as much as a top WR.
Anywhere outside the top-4 is reasonable in my opinion.
I've always hated the logic of, let's take a worse prospect because he plays a more important position. I get it at QB, but anywhere else is foolish in my opinion. Its not a coincidence that the final 4 teams last season all had top TEs (Kelce, Kittle, Andrews, LaPorta) a top TE is worth every bit as much as a top WR.
Despyzer
Lousy Attention Whore
Hockenson was 1st team All-Pro in his 2nd year. I don't think drafting a TE with a top pick is a great idea either, but not because it never works out, and not because they develop slowly. Because neither of those things are actually true.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I am a Lions fan, I promise you Hockenson was not all that good his second year. They had the worst group of pass catchers in the league. It was purely volume based. TJ always frustrated Lions fans and none of us were very sad to see him go.
Hockenson also was never 1st team all-pro. Travis Kelce was 1st team in 2020, and 2nd team was Darren Waller.
ETA: Hockenson was 1st team all conference that year. Which is a far inferior accolade.
Despyzer
Lousy Attention Whore
Tau837
Footballguy
But... observations:
- The game has changed so much over time that I don't think draft picks from more than 10 years ago are particularly applicable or predictive.
- That only leaves a sample size of 3 in this list, which is obviously too small to be predictive.
- Pitts illustrates how much QB play matters to TE production. He was great as a rookie with Matt Ryan (17 starts). Since then, the ATL QBs have been Ridder (17 starts), Mariota (13), Heinecke (4).
If Bowers goes to a team with quality QB play and coaching, then Pitts' rookie season is more applicable as a comparison than his other 2 seasons. - Bowers has a stronger draft profile than every player on this list. He is arguably the best TE draft prospect ever.
Faust
MVP
Austin Abbott
Comparing Kyle Pitts and Brock Bowers as Prospects:
Kyle Pitts: (6’6, 245 lbs)
YAC: 539
YPRR: 2.36
YAC/REC: 5.4
Drop Rate: 5.7%
Receiving YPG: 62.1
Missed Tackles Forced: 10
Contested Catch Rate: 55.6%
College Production: (24 Games)
100 Receptions
Brock Bowers: (6’3, 243 lbs)
YAC: 1,487
YPRR: 2.64
YAC/REC: 8.5
Drop Rate: 4.4%
Receiving YPG: 63.5
Missed Tackles Forced: 44
Contested Catch Rate: 59%
College Production: (40 Games)
Notable Information:
Kyle Pitts BEST season: (2020)
Brock Bowers FRESHMAN stats: (2021)
In the ENTIRE PFF College Era, Bowers ranks:
1st in Career PFF Receiving Grade
He's my 1.4 in dynasty drafts right now. Any team that drafts him, is gonna do it with a plan of usage. Personally, I like the Jets, that way they can use Williams as more of a deep threat/clear out guy, and not have to send Wilson on so many 5 yard crossers that he got lit up on this season.
Faust
MVP
Three best team fits for Georgia TE Brock Bowers
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Charles Davis reveals his NFL player comparison for Brock Bowers | 'Path to the Draft'
Mel Kiper Jr. on Brock Bowers: 'He is a nightmare trying to match up with'
Brock Bowers: NFL Draft profile, Fantasy Football & Dynasty outlook, full scouting report, more
Charles Davis reveals his NFL player comparison for Brock Bowers | 'Path to the Draft'
-OZ-
Footballguy
I think you’re right. Hopefully he’s the Aaron Donald of tight ends.
He’s reminiscent of a better Aaron Hernandez on the field.
I was just about to say this - I think his best comp is Aaron Hernandez. I think he may not be quite the physical specimen that Hernandez was, but their best use cases are very similar. I would give the edge to Bowers when it comes to hands and playmaking. His college film is beyond impressive. The fact that he was dominant in the SEC as a freshman is a very compelling data point. When I think of other players who were dominant on tape, but had questions about their physical traits, the tape seems to be the more reliable evaluation tool.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I've seen fans of teams with good TEs like KC, SF, and DET wanting to move up to get the next "Gronk/AH" combo. Minus the murdering part of course.
I wouldn't HATE this for the Bears, though I would prefer they trade back to 15-ish to grab him, as I think he might slide. It's easy to see his talent, but a little bit more difficult to project his usage in the NFL. He needs to go to a team with a brilliant offensive schemer. I think any of the three teams you mentioned would find a way to use him that would be terrifying for the rest of the league.
-OZ-
Footballguy
Seems they’d have to give a lot. At least next year’s first.
I just don’t want him in Indy.
massraider
Footballguy
Yep.
In terms of playmaking for a college TE, he's on a level never even approached. He's top right, all by himself, in any graph that tracks post- catch abilities.
massraider
Footballguy
Brock Bowers 2023 Film - All Targets and Carries
All of Brock Bowers's targets and carries from the 2023 season.Clips from the Orange Bowl vs Florida State were omitted because of copyright.Stats:56 rec. fo...
youtu.be
Every target.
-OZ-
Footballguy
I like that they include misses and botched plays. Dude is elite.Brock Bowers 2023 Film - All Targets and Carries
All of Brock Bowers's targets and carries from the 2023 season.Clips from the Orange Bowl vs Florida State were omitted because of copyright.Stats:56 rec. fo...
Every target.
massraider
Footballguy
Those every touch videos are great.I like that they include misses and botched plays. Dude is elite.Brock Bowers 2023 Film - All Targets and Carries
All of Brock Bowers's targets and carries from the 2023 season.Clips from the Orange Bowl vs Florida State were omitted because of copyright.Stats:56 rec. fo...
Every target.
His is crazy. 25 minutes, but it looks like a highlight film. There's like 4 bad plays in there.
I'm not even sure we are all realizing what we are seeing.
He breaks tackles like a RB. A RB who is really good at breaking tackles. He gets up to speed immediately, runs so low that his momentum and lean is a problem on every single catch where he gets turned upfield. Also, I swear, he runs faster with the ball in his hands.
Runs stutter fades from the slot--ridiculous.
Gets downfield on CBs.
Those short outs, quick passes to the flats? That's his bread and butter. Gets turned upfield SO QUICK, and runs like an angry horse.
His leverage is such that dudes tackle him are basically jumping on top, and trying to ride him to the ground. No one gets low and wraps up on him.
Not a TE. He's an H Back
Chaos34
Footballguy
A couple weeks ago in our group mock, I called him a weapon of mass destruction among some other praise.
