NFL Draft Film Breakdown: Brock Bowers a Perfect Fit for Cincinnati Bengals?

Is the 21-year-old an ideal first round target for the Bengals?

Mike Santagata | Feb 26, 2024

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Cincinnati Bengals

Brock Bowers is the first tight end to win the John Mackey Award in back-to-back seasons.

The award was established in 2000 and is given to the top tight end in the country. Bowers is considered the top tight end prospect in this year's draft class. The Georgia product was also named a First Team All American in each of the three seasons he played for the Bulldogs. Even as a freshman, Bowers racked up 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 6-4, 240 pound tight end has been a dominant force since the moment he stepped onto campus. Let’s watch the film and see why he's such a dynamic player:

Where He Excels

Bowers has an absolutely insane ability to pick up yards after the catch. His contact balance, elusiveness, and athleticism all show up in this area. This was the thing that he did best at the collegiate level. Georgia even used him on jet sweeps, tap passes, and other plays behind the line of scrimmage just to get him opportunities to create in space.

Brock Bowers being a monster after the catchpic.twitter.com/VO1sbwesmq
— mike (@bengals_sans) February 19, 2024

His release at the first and second level is tremendous. That technical ability is one of, if not the most important ability a tight end can possess in the NFL. It’s a physical game with athletic marvels and if you can’t get behind the second level without being knocked off course, it’s difficult to win. Bowers was extremely clean in this area at Georgia.

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— Walter (@Pff_Walter) February 26, 2024

Bowers is an elite route runner. He sets himself up with these releases to always be clean and in positions to succeed but he wins at the break point as well. He routinely breaks the leverage of the defender to cross their face and win in the direction that the defender is protecting against. He could be one of the rare tight ends that is dominant against man coverage in the NFL.

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— Walter (@Pff_Walter) February 26, 2024

Bowers can catch the ball well through contact. Despite taking some massive hits, he almost always held onto the ball to complete the catch. Even with the rule changes for player safety, big bodied receivers need to be able to hold onto the ball despite taking some pretty massive hits. Bowers has this ability.

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— Walter (@Pff_Walter) February 26, 2024

He's a freak athletically and should test like one at the NFL Combine and/or Georgia's Pro Day. He routinely pulled away from defenders in college with his long speed and could also be used as a deep threat because he can win vertically against the defense.

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— Walter (@Pff_Walter) February 26, 2024

He blocks extremely well in space, at the second level, and against defensive backs. He should be a plus blocker in this area right away. He's shown the ability to survive when lined up in line and even had a few blocks that flashed some potential to thrive in this role if he puts on some good weight. He shows good ability to strain, sustain, and drives his feet.

Areas of Concern

Bowers isn't the type of tight end to consistently win jump balls against defenders. Despite the size, he was inconsistent in his ability to come down with jump balls against smaller defenders.

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— Walter (@Pff_Walter) February 26, 2024

Despite being a good blocker in space and flashing ability to block in-line, he won't be a Rob Gronkowski or George Kittle level blocker in the NFL. Those guys are essentially an extra offensive lineman.

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— Walter (@Pff_Walter) February 26, 2024

Bowers is on the shorter and lighter side for tight ends. He's going to come in below the 40th percentile in height and below the 15th percentile in weight. This will make him one of the smaller tight ends in draft history.

Overall Thoughts

Bowers is a true blue chip talent in this draft.

As a receiver, Bowers has nearly everything you look for in a tight end prospect and then some. He consistently keeps himself clean when releasing from the first level and the second level, is a very talented route runner to win against man coverage, and has good hands to hold onto the ball through contact.

He showed some intelligence against zone coverage to slow down and sit in the voids when the throw was late as well. His ability to break the leverage of the defender is something that great tight ends in the NFL are able to do regularly. If that was all he had, he would be a first round receiving tight end, but he has an insane ability to run after the catch.

That was his calling card at the collegiate level. His elusiveness, contact balance, athleticism, and willingness to finish forward through contact all shine. There’s a reason that he got so many touches at or behind the line of scrimmage. The fact that he was doing this even as a true freshman is also rare. Winning as an 18 year old player against SEC competition is impressive. He should be easy to use as a receiver with even more upside if the coaching staff is willing to get creative with him.

Bowers' ability to block is hampered by his size. He does an excellent job when he’s in space or against smaller bodies, but when he faces down linemen, he's inconsistent. He usually does his job well enough to survive, but he’s currently best suited to be double teaming, on the back side of runs, or working to the second level.

He needs to be able to survive against down linemen, which he did at Georgia. Surviving in-line should provide coaches with a way to work him on play action to get him wide open with room to run. There were flashes of some ability to move defensive ends in the run game, it just wasn't consistent. He has room to add weight and become an even better blocker. He won't turn 22 until December and is very young for a prospect.

He’s a better blocker than an "F-only" TE but he’s probably not a true Gronkowski type of tight end where he can be an extra lineman on the field.

Scheme Fit

Bowers fits best with a team that will utilize his ability to run after the catch. Give him plenty of touches at or behind the line of scrimmage and he will provide immediate value. He should play a variety of roles from the X, slot, and off the ball tight end often with some sprinkling of in-line Y work.

Grade

Early First Round

Pro Comparison

Delanie Walker

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