X/Twitter reacts to the pick
With quarterbacks flying off the board in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders went with a ‘best player available’ approach to the 13th overall pick and took Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
The Raiders had other needs, specifically at offensive line and cornerback, so Bowers’ selection came as a big surprise and was arguably one of the biggest shockers of the night. So, let’s take a look at how X, formerly known as Twitter, reacted to the news.
Even Bowers was shocked!
Brock Bowers on being drafted by the Raiders:
“I was shocked … I wasn’t really sure what was happening. But then the phone call came and I am juiced.”— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) April 26, 2024
Draft Analyst Mike Renner thinks Bowers and Michael Mayer could resemble one of the best tight end duos (on the field) in NFL history, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
Couldn’t love Brock Bowers to the Raiders more. No one mocked it because of Michael Mayer, but they can easily co-exist in the same way Gronk/Hernandez did
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) April 26, 2024
Highest graded tight end in the PFF era? Not bad.
Brock Bowers: The highest graded Tight End in the PFF era (94.1) pic.twitter.com/lXkUvGb6aE
— PFF Las Vegas Raiders (@PFF_Raiders) April 26, 2024
How about some highlights?
The Raiders just drafted a DAWG in Brock Bowers pic.twitter.com/kgsjgBh7cb
— Bussin’ With The Boys (@BussinWTB) April 26, 2024
Brock Bowers is going to ball out for the Raiders pic.twitter.com/2cQVULItG7
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 26, 2024
The former Bulldog is a YAC machine.
#Raiders TE Brock Bowers had 2538 receiving yards in his college career… 1210 of those came after the catch, or 47.8%. For reference:
– Marvin Harrison: 29.1%
– Rome Odunze: 30%
– Malik Nabers: 35.9%— Tristen Kuhn (@KuhnTristen) April 26, 2024
One way to look at it…
Love it. Better than Mayock reaching for someone like Spencer Rattler.
— Cali MJ (@mjthesecond_) April 26, 2024
Not everyone is a fan, though.
Disgusted. It’s painful being a raiders fan at this point. Like an abusive relationship. Bowers might be great but, this was the year to go get your QB. A great RT would have be an ok consolation prize. But, a TE? After grabbing Mayer last year? Tough pill to swallow
— Scott Adams (@Jerzraider) April 26, 2024
Garbage should’ve got defense if no QB
— Joseph Ortega (@JosephOrtega882) April 26, 2024
RGIII points out that Bowers was used in the rushing game, too.
Brock Bowers isn’t a TE, he is a WEAPON OF MASS RECEPTION. He is what you want from a TE averaging 14.5 yards per reception, a RB averaging 10.2 yards per carry and a WR with 26 touchdown receptions in 3 years at Georgia. Raiders fans got them a blue blood who raids the end zone. pic.twitter.com/zFoRaLlSUd
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 26, 2024
The pick gets the Skip Bayless stamp of approval, not sure if that’s good or bad.
ANTONIO PIERCE JUST GOT HIMSELF ANOTHER BALLER. WHAT A STEAL … BROCK BOWERS AT 13!!! NO QB YET. BUT NO MATTER THE NEED … YOU JUST CANNOT PASS UP BROCK BOWERS AT 13. CONGRATS, RAIDER NATION.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 26, 2024
The Raiders’ draft party reacts to the news.
Reaction to #Raiders selecting Brock Bowers with the 13th pick#NFLDraft #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/UbMqBknUI8
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) April 26, 2024
The Jets were also a popular destination for the former Bulldog. Las Vegas doesn’t have quite the same quarterback situation.
Brock Bowers realizing he’s catching passes from Gardner Minshew and not Aaron Rodgers pic.twitter.com/zA0WYvKrD5
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) April 26, 2024
Luke Getsy did get good production out of Cole Kmet in Chicago, is this Getsy’s dream scenario?
The Raiders Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy thinking about 2 TE sets after getting Brock Bowers! #RaiderNation #NFLdraft pic.twitter.com/874T3kQu58
— ☠️Silver&BlackHoleSun (@ZombieRaider707) April 26, 2024
Getsy also used a lot of two-tight-end sets with the Bears.
Expect the #Raiders to use a lot of 12 personnel (one RB, two TEs, two WRs) next season. Under OC Luke Getsy, the Bears were 7th in 12 personnel snaps last season. Bowers will fill the Cole Kmet role as a versatile weapon who lines up at TE, outside WR and slot WR. https://t.co/YxRpuWn1D1
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) April 26, 2024
Will Davante Adams be happy with another target in the passing game as well as the current quarterback and offensive line situations?
Davante Adams reacting to the Raiders picking a TE in the first round pic.twitter.com/5rRgsLFVud
— RaiderRamble.com™ (@TheRaiderRamble) April 26, 2024
The Athletic’s film guru Ted Nguyen is a big fan of the Bowers pick and likes that the Silver and Black finally went with a BPA approach.
Wow. Raiders just made a true BPA pick. Can’t hate it based on what they’ve done. Great value.
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) April 26, 2024
I get it. They have other needs but raiders have gotten themselves in trouble reaching at position of need and while there were good CBs and OL available, Bowers was probably by far the highest ranked player on their board. I think he’s going to be a star. Draft stars imo. https://t.co/dHcTOrraU1
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) April 26, 2024
The Napa native joins the team he grew up watching.
Fun fact: #Raiders first-round pick Brock Bowers is from Napa, California where the team held Training Camp back in Oakland. He grew up watching them at camp as a fan, with them practicing at his middle school.
“It’s crazy how things come full circle around.”
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) April 26, 2024
Let’s wrap up with some gifs, all are reactions to the Bowers pick.
— Chris Simmons (@sik0simmons) April 26, 2024
— O-dogg (@O_dogg81) April 26, 2024
— I want my two dollars (@DaPharcyde410) April 26, 2024
— ☠️Silver&BlackHoleSun (@ZombieRaider707) April 26, 2024
— 0g_ str8up (@0g_str8up) April 26, 2024