It’s been a special year, but he’s not the favorite
Monday, Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce stumped for his star tight end Brock Bowers to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
“Look at the records, look at the stats,“ said Pierce when asked if he thought Bowers, the No. 13 overall draft pick in April, should win the award.
There is no doubt, Bowers — who would be the first tight end to ever win the award — is having a hardware-worthy campaign,
He now has 108 receptions for 1,144 yards this season. Sunday, he broke three records. He broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end (1,076 yards). he broke Puka Nacua’s rookie catch record (105) and he broke Darren Waller’s Raiders’ season catch record (107). Weeks ago, he set the rookie tight end catch record of 86, which he has shattered.
There is one more record in Bowers’ sight. He is nine catches away from breaking Zach Ertz’s record of 116 catches by a tight end that he set in 2018.
Pierce is right. look at Bowers record and stats and it’s easy to see why he should be the OROY.
But there is a problem — Jayden Daniels.
Quarterbacks always get the edge when it comes to awards and the No. 2 overall pick is having a special season himself and he is a primary reason why the Washington Commanders made the playoffs and are 11-5 and finishing 4-13 in 2023. Daniels has thrown for 3,530 yards with 25 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
So, Bowers has a big mountain to climb to make history, but he has one more shot.