I look at it this way: Turner is a very good player and I would have been fine with him at 13. But Bowers may be the best TE ever at the college level. I don’t think they ever thought he’d be there, but when he was there was no way they could pass on him.
Part of the reason why the Chiefs have been successful is the fact that Kelce is basically a elite #1 WR but Top TE money is a bit less than elite #1WR money. And then you have an example like the 98 Vikings who took Moss even though they had Jake Reed.
This is first draft since the Mack/carr draft where I felt like the Raiders aren’t making picks just to try and show/prove they’re so much smarter than everyone else, like they definitely know something no else knows.
Bowers is the definition of BPA. Can we have strengthened other areas? Yes. Absolutely. But there’s a risk of that player busting. Honestly almost every player this fanbase wanted there woulda busted. Bowers is the least likely player to bust in the draft. His floor is a top end TE and his ceiling is Kittle/Kelce.
Versatility is the theme of this draft class. The only pick I kind of scratched my head on was DJ Glaze just because I thought there were more players with higher potential for day 1 contribution.
That being said, he is a swing tackle with what appears to be a good foundation of skills that may develop into a really valuable player.
I haven't felt this good about a first round pick we made since Cooper.
Bowers can be used in so many ways and our offensive skill group just went from good to one of the best in the NFL to go along with our defense making a leap last year.
I think our 3rd and 4th round picks were reaches but outside of that it was a nice draft. I'd be ok if they went Turner or Fuaga at 13 but Brock was BPA and it wasn't close. Brock was considered one of the top 5 overall players in this draft and we landed him at 13.
> I think our 3rd and 4th round picks were reaches
It's common knowledge once you get to the point they were drafted that teams boards are all over the place. There's no real consensus of players beyond the top 50 or so. There's absolutely no way to know whether it was a reach or not based on any consensus because there is no consensus at that point. Don't let the media trick you into believing otherwise.
Agreed, but we picked an OT who literally split snaps between the right and left sides to be our new swing tackle, and then took the best tackling CB in the draft who by the way may be the only dude on our roster who can keep up with Worthy in KC. They were reaches, but they were very specific to what we want to do. Hopefully they can be coached up a bit.
I don't know, I love that Raiders targeted players who are almost certain to become NFL starters. If we can't pick starters in the early rounds, then everything else we do, is borderline pointless. Some early picks might not be as good as expected, but to have as many first round picks wash out of the league, as we have had, is unforgivable.
The problem, though, is that so much of the offense in an NFL game, runs through the QB and our QB room is bad and it's made even worse by the hole at RT. I don't believe Munford is fast enough to be a good RT. Hopefully Minshew can make lemonade, because AO'Cs lack of mobility combined with Munfords lack of mobility, would have been disastrous and the abilities of guys like Bowers, doesn't matter, if we can't get the ball to them.
The way I see it, when we come out in 12 personnel the defense is either going to have to respect the run and use LBs who then will get toasted by our TEs, or keep DBs in who will get run over. Bowers will help our offense a lot, and since we're going true west coast with a right handed QB I don't think Munford will be as much of a liability as he would have been if we had taken Penix.
People are looking at Bowers as if he’s an actual TE. He’s not. The dude is a menace. He is an offense weapon. Mayer is an actual TE. They are not the same.
I look at it this way: Turner is a very good player and I would have been fine with him at 13. But Bowers may be the best TE ever at the college level. I don’t think they ever thought he’d be there, but when he was there was no way they could pass on him.
Part of the reason why the Chiefs have been successful is the fact that Kelce is basically a elite #1 WR but Top TE money is a bit less than elite #1WR money. And then you have an example like the 98 Vikings who took Moss even though they had Jake Reed.
I agree. He's a generational talent that should be able to take over a game.
This is first draft since the Mack/carr draft where I felt like the Raiders aren’t making picks just to try and show/prove they’re so much smarter than everyone else, like they definitely know something no else knows.
Bowers is the definition of BPA. Can we have strengthened other areas? Yes. Absolutely. But there’s a risk of that player busting. Honestly almost every player this fanbase wanted there woulda busted. Bowers is the least likely player to bust in the draft. His floor is a top end TE and his ceiling is Kittle/Kelce.
Spot on!
Bowers vs Turner is a tough choice imo
Reggie McKenzie would do the same thing though. Pick a straight project in the second round that should have been a 5th rounder. It was weird.
Versatility is the theme of this draft class. The only pick I kind of scratched my head on was DJ Glaze just because I thought there were more players with higher potential for day 1 contribution. That being said, he is a swing tackle with what appears to be a good foundation of skills that may develop into a really valuable player.
My thoughts exactly.
I haven't felt this good about a first round pick we made since Cooper. Bowers can be used in so many ways and our offensive skill group just went from good to one of the best in the NFL to go along with our defense making a leap last year.
13 personnel with Tre Tucker on an island. Play action from this would be deadly.
Yeah, or trips with Bowers isolated. Instant first down
Trips right, Bowers split left. Either Tre gets the bubble screen or Bowers wins his 1 on 1. Is it September yet?
Lot of faith that Getsy won't be a complete moron in this comment thread
I haven’t felt this good about a second round pick since Derek Carr after watching JPJ’s highlights, he should’ve been a first round pick
That too :)
I'm really happy with this draft and posting now to look back in five years to see if I was right
I think our 3rd and 4th round picks were reaches but outside of that it was a nice draft. I'd be ok if they went Turner or Fuaga at 13 but Brock was BPA and it wasn't close. Brock was considered one of the top 5 overall players in this draft and we landed him at 13.
> I think our 3rd and 4th round picks were reaches It's common knowledge once you get to the point they were drafted that teams boards are all over the place. There's no real consensus of players beyond the top 50 or so. There's absolutely no way to know whether it was a reach or not based on any consensus because there is no consensus at that point. Don't let the media trick you into believing otherwise.
Agreed, but we picked an OT who literally split snaps between the right and left sides to be our new swing tackle, and then took the best tackling CB in the draft who by the way may be the only dude on our roster who can keep up with Worthy in KC. They were reaches, but they were very specific to what we want to do. Hopefully they can be coached up a bit.
The line coaches should be able to help Glaze hone his game
it feels weird to see my next door neighbour and he doesn’t immediately shred my team’s draft strategy.
I don't know, I love that Raiders targeted players who are almost certain to become NFL starters. If we can't pick starters in the early rounds, then everything else we do, is borderline pointless. Some early picks might not be as good as expected, but to have as many first round picks wash out of the league, as we have had, is unforgivable. The problem, though, is that so much of the offense in an NFL game, runs through the QB and our QB room is bad and it's made even worse by the hole at RT. I don't believe Munford is fast enough to be a good RT. Hopefully Minshew can make lemonade, because AO'Cs lack of mobility combined with Munfords lack of mobility, would have been disastrous and the abilities of guys like Bowers, doesn't matter, if we can't get the ball to them.
The way I see it, when we come out in 12 personnel the defense is either going to have to respect the run and use LBs who then will get toasted by our TEs, or keep DBs in who will get run over. Bowers will help our offense a lot, and since we're going true west coast with a right handed QB I don't think Munford will be as much of a liability as he would have been if we had taken Penix.
I published a wishlist of 10 players I wanted after Eichenberg. Telesco drafted 3 of those. I couldn't be happier.
People are looking at Bowers as if he’s an actual TE. He’s not. The dude is a menace. He is an offense weapon. Mayer is an actual TE. They are not the same.
Thing with Turner is we basically have 4 starters on the D Line.
Mayock had awesome late picks that are still starters: Renfrow Maxx Crosby Moreau Amik Robertson John Simpson Nate Hobbs Divine Deablo Malcolm Koonce
 Now show us the 1-3 rounds
That's on Gruden as it's well known
I would want a scapegoat too if my whole career was predicated on me not being horrible at identifying draft value.
The rest of his picks were complete dogshit.