Honestly, if you were watching the draft on that Thursday night in April, you probably did a double-take. It wasn’t just that a tight end went in the top 15. It was who took him. When the Las Vegas Raiders were on the clock, most of the "experts" had them pegged for a cornerback or a much-needed offensive tackle. Instead, they went for the guy everyone called a "generational" talent, even though they already had a young star at the position.
When was Brock Bowers drafted and by which team?
Brock Bowers was drafted on April 25, 2024. He was the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders were the team that pulled the trigger, making him the first tight end taken off the board that year.
It was a bit of a wild night.
The first 12 picks were all offensive players—a record-setting streak. When the Raiders' turn came at No. 13, the defensive side of the ball hadn't even been touched yet. You had guys like Terrion Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell sitting right there. But new GM Tom Telesco, in his first draft with Vegas, decided that he wasn't going to draft for "need." He wanted the best player available, period. That player was the kid from Georgia.
The specifics of the draft day
The 2024 NFL Draft took place in Detroit, and the energy was electric. Bowers didn't have to wait long. While some mocks had him falling to the Colts or even slipping into the late teens because of "positional value" concerns, the Raiders didn't blink.
🔗 Read more: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- Round: 1
- Pick: 13
- Team: Las Vegas Raiders
- College: University of Georgia
Why the 13th pick was such a shocker
Vegas had just used a high second-round pick on Michael Mayer the year before. Mayer was supposed to be the guy. So, when the Commissioner announced Bowers’ name, the internet basically melted. "Why another tight end?" was the cry from the Silver and Black faithful.
But here’s the thing: Bowers isn't just a tight end. He's a weapon.
At Georgia, he was basically their entire offense at times. We're talking about a guy who won the John Mackey Award twice. Nobody else has ever done that. He left Athens with 26 touchdowns and over 2,500 yards. He wasn't just blocking; he was running jet sweeps and burning safeties on deep crosses.
The Raiders saw him as a "matchup nightmare" rather than just a guy who lines up next to the tackle. They figured if you have two elite tight ends, you can run "12 personnel" (two TEs, one RB) and make defensive coordinators lose sleep. How do you cover Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Michael Mayer, and Brock Bowers all at once? You basically can't.
💡 You might also like: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
The "Generational" label and the skeptics
You hear that word a lot. "Generational." It gets thrown around every year, but with Bowers, the scouts really meant it. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein even compared him to George Kittle. That's high praise.
Not everyone was a fan of the pick, though. Some critics gave the Raiders a "C-" grade for the selection. The logic was simple: they didn't have a long-term answer at quarterback, and their right tackle spot was a mess. Taking a "luxury" player like a second tight end felt like buying a flat-screen TV when your roof is leaking.
But Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce didn't care. They wanted blue-chip talent. They saw a player who had 112 receptions and nearly 1,200 yards in his rookie pro season—numbers that actually broke records held by Mike Ditka and Puka Nacua. Looking back from 2026, it's pretty clear that his "draft status" as the 13th pick was actually a steal.
What happened after the draft?
Once the draft dust settled, Bowers signed his rookie deal on May 9, 2024. He hit the ground running. Despite some worries about an ankle injury he sustained in college (the one that required tightrope surgery), he looked like a veteran from Day 1 of training camp.
📖 Related: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
He didn't just meet expectations; he shattered them.
By the time the 2024 season ended, he was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. He proved that it doesn't matter when you were drafted or where you play on the field if you can just flat-out play football. He became the focal point of the Raiders' passing game, often leading the team in targets.
Key takeaways for fans and collectors
If you’re looking for his rookie cards or trying to remember his entry point into the league, keep these facts handy:
- Draft Year: 2024 is the definitive year for all his "true" rookie memorabilia.
- The Slotting: Being the 13th pick carries a certain weight; it's high enough to show elite status but low enough that he joined a team that was already "middle of the pack" rather than a total basement dweller.
- Positionality: He changed the conversation about drafting tight ends in the first round. Usually, that's a risky move (think Kyle Pitts or Eric Ebron), but Bowers actually lived up to the hype immediately.
The Raiders might still be searching for that franchise QB in early 2026, but they definitely found their franchise playmaker. Whether he’s lined up in the slot or as a traditional in-line tight end, Bowers has made the "13th overall" spot look like one of the best decisions the organization has made in a decade.
If you’re tracking his career or managing a fantasy roster, the next step is to look at his snap counts specifically in the red zone. The Raiders have increasingly moved him to the "X" receiver spot in goal-line situations, which is a massive tell for his projected touchdown production. Keep an eye on the Raiders' offensive coordinator changes; any shift toward a more vertical passing game only increases his value.