Brock Bowers is the Key to Revolutionizing the Vikings’ New Offense in 2024
Cody Spears
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The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2024 NFL Draft with only a depth need at tight end. With some creative thinking, they could revolutionize their offense.
Taking a tight end 11th overall would generate gasps across the NFL, considering the Vikings’ need for defenders and, potentially, a quarterback. However, if the Vikings follow the best player available approach, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers could be their first-round choice. Today’s edition of the Vikings Draft Thermometer will expand on the scouting profile of Bowers and how his versatility could impact an NFL franchise.
Overview
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 240 pounds
- Arm Length: TBD
- Hand Size: TBD
- Wingspan: TBD
- School: Georgia (2021-2023)
- Games Watched: Alabama x2 (2021), Kentucky (2021), South Carolina (2022), Florida (2022), LSU (2022), TCU (2022), Auburn (2023), Kentucky (2023), Alabama (2023)
Brock Bowers was a four-star 247 Sports recruit and the second-ranked tight end in the Class of 2021. He committed to Georgia with his sights set on playing as a freshman. Bowers did just that, breaking University of Georgia receiving records and finishing as SEC Freshman of the Year.
Brock Bowers entered 2022 as a preseason All-American. He delivered, bringing home All-American status and the John Mackey Award, which is reserved for the nation’s best tight end. 2023 would be his final season in the NCAA. Despite missing a handful of games, Bowers finished once again as a First Team All-American with the John Mackey Award. No other tight end has won the John Mackey Award twice.
Statistics
- 2021: 56 Receptions, 882 Yards, 13 TDs (15 games)
- 2022: 63 Receptions, 942 Yards, 7 TDs (15 games)
- 2023: 56 Receptions, 714 Yards, 6 TDs (10 games)
Strengths
An underrated aspect of Brock Bowers’ draft stock is his versatility. His versatility to be used in an offense is a driving force of his top-10 projected draft capital. Brock Bowers can align in any skill player spot in the lineup, including halfback and out-wide.
Bowers changes gear seamlessly with elite burst. When pushing vertically, his long stride stacks defenders instantaneously helping him pull away from defenders. He’s a fluid athlete who snaps into his routes with fantastic foot speed. Brock Bowers understands how to manipulate defenders with his body and consistently leverages defenders on his routes. He boasts an expansive route tree, tracks the ball well across all levels, and is an Alpha at the catch point.
Bowers is a physical player with violent hands in his release package, and he is an underrated asset to the ground game. Brock Bowers plays bully ball as a blocker and looks to deliver punishment. He excels in the backfield as both a rusher and a lead blocker.
Weaknesses
It’s difficult to poke holes in Brock Bowers’ collegiate resume, but with that being said, no prospect is perfect. Bowers is close, though, comparing favorably to the tight-end prospect G.O.A.T. Vernon Davis. Bowers’ physical profile is more lean than Davis’, who came into the league at 6’3″ and 254 pounds. Pundits will pick holes at Bowers’ size and wonder if he can play an in-line tight end position full-time.
NFL Projection
- Draft Stock: Top 10-First Round
- Immediate Role: Starting TE/Big Slot
- NFL Comp: Vernon Davis
- Vikings Draft Thermometer: 40
There have been countless mock drafts to this point, and Brock Bowers may have appeared on zero of them. They traded for and extended T.J. Hockenson, who just recorded career-highs with 95 receptions and 960 receiving yards. Last year, they brought on former Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver with a 3-year, $21 million contract.
Regardless, Brock Bowers’ driving force is his versatility to be featured as an elite mismatch across the formation. His ability to play as a receiver in 3-WR sets, moonlight as a halfback in the C.J. Ham role, or fill in for a rehabbing T.J. Hockenson could be essential in a Kirk Cousins future.
If Brock Bowers were to fall out of the top 10, where he has been projected, the Minnesota Vikings could take him at 11 if they want to revolutionize their offense. In doing so, they could blur the line between 11, 12, and 13 personnel. Defenses would need to adjust to the big personnel, thus creating more mismatches in the passing game. Having three tight ends routinely making an impact would also give the Vikings a boost to their ground game because of their blocking abilities.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via 247 Sports, Pro Football Focus, and Sports Reference CFB.
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Cody Spears‘ passion lies in evaluating NFL prospects and following their stories. He is currently going to school to be an HVAC Technician. Cody enjoys spending his time on road trips with his wife, Amanda, and son, Bentley. Cody and his family are super fans of the show “Survivor” on CBS. He is a future Sole Survivor. You can find him on Twitter/X at @TheCodySpears and check out his rookie rankings here.