I’ve seen a lot of people talking about what the Titans should do if MHJ and the top left tackles aren’t available when they draft. A lot of people have been saying that Bowers would be a great option to give Levis a weapon who will also be a good blocker.
While I like the idea of Brock Bowers, drafting a tight end in the first round hasn’t worked out great for nearly every team since Greg Olson in 2007. I’ll preface this by saying I’m going solely off offensive statistics like catches, TDS, and yards - and not blocking. I just think if a TE is to be drafted this high, they need to be a great pass catcher.
2021 - Kyle Pitts - Had a really good rookie season in terms of yards, but has not been looking great since, but may be too soon to tell . (maybe it’s scheme? coaching?)
2019 - T.J. Hockenson - pretty solid, but 1st round talent, especially top 10?
2019 - Noah Fant - decent, but not making any waves.
2018 - O.J. Howard - even had Tom Brady for a couple years and was an average TE at BEST. Big disappointment considering the hype.
2017 - Evan Engram - good rookie season but that has been his peak.
2017 - David Njoku - fine at best. Hasn’t had 700 yards or more than 4 TDs in a season
2014 - Eric Ebron - one really good season that came in year 5 - 13 TDs and 66 catches (both career highs by far).
2013 - Tyler Eifert - only 1 season with over 500 yards and/or 5 TDs and they came in the same year. Crushed it with 13 TDs.
Hindsight is 20/20, but would you spend a 1st on any of these players? Especially with the shape of our roster?
The best tight ends in the league like Kelce, Kittle, Andrews, etc., were pretty much all drafted in rounds 3 or later. Not trying to say you can’t get a good tight end in round one, but it’s a big gamble. Nearly every year there seems to be a consensus top TE, and nearly every year they don’t live up to the hype of a first round pick.
With the holes that we have on this team, are you comfortable gambling on a tight end in the first round?
Plus he has had tightrope surgery on both of his ankles.
Tight End is like running back where they get so beat up that their availability past week 4 or 5 is always in question. Look at the tight end class we just had in 2023, all these guys area either injured or inconsistent, only it was called the best TE class of all-time. Only Sam LaPorta has a higher PFF grade than Whyle.
Taking a TE that high is just too risky. If Bowers was some 6’7 270 pound Gronk like unstoppable figure I’d take a shot but he’s not, I think he’s going to just be an above average TE that gets injured frequently.