2024 NFL Draft: Brock Bowers headlines 6 first-round wild cards; what is Michael Penix Jr.'s ceiling/floor?
Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today’s installment, he explores a half-dozen prospects who’ve thrown a wrench into mock drafting …
In the current pass-focused NFL, numerous tight ends have emerged as the offensive chessboard’s queen. Innovative coordinators have converted these heavyweight hybrids into game-making engines, leveraging their exceptional athleticism, stature, and ball handling abilities to pose significant challenges for rival defenses.
George Kittle has been at the forefront of the movement as a Swiss Army Knife for San Francisco 49ers, but the league is about to welcome a multi-dimensional weapon from Georgia with the potential to further revolutionize the position and game.
While draft season has a tendency to produce excessive hype on some prospects, Brock Bowers is the truth. The tape absolutely backs up the buzz about his extraordinary talent and NFL potential.
Standing tall at just over 6-foot-3 and weighing 243 pounds, the exceptional athlete from Georgia is a distinctive talent with unique playmaking abilities. Bowers has the versatility to play anywhere on the field as a flex tight end, bringing a modern approach to the game. At just 21 years old, he has the ability to create and exploit mismatches, whether playing in a conventional “Y” position or as a receiver in the slot. Moreover, this large-framed athlete is capable of jumping into the backfield to accept handoffs on off-tackle runs and can also effectively execute jet-sweeps. His remarkable burst and running skills enable him to transform bubble screens into touchdowns. Bowers dominates games as a superb route runner with his soft hands and formidable RAC (run after catch) skills.
What’s there not to appreciate? The league is eagerly anticipating the arrival of this vibrant football player who possesses an unparalleled blend of size, speed, and skill.
Observing Bowers evade or charge through defenders, it brings to mind a young Jeremy Shockey, the Miami All-American who was the 14th overall pick in 2002 and won first-team All-Pro honors in his rookie year. While this comparison may not completely align with the high expectations some have for the Georgia product, Bowers’ physical strength, tenacity and seamless receiving abilities bear an uncanny resemblance to the four-time Pro Bowler’s skills.
Bowers’ game is well-known to teams searching for a boost in offense. As a versatile tight end with often-overlooked blocking skills, Bowers can remain on the field for all three downs, fulfilling the roles of a run blocker and pass catcher. His potential to create a hybrid impact similar to Kittle is evident.
Of course, Kittle was a fifth-round steal for the 49ers back in 2017. In fact, many of today’s best tight ends — including Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews, Dallas Goedert, Trey McBride and Cole Kmet — entered the league as non-first-round picks. Meanwhile, some of the most highly drafted players at the position in recent years (think: Kyle Pitts and O.J. Howard) have struggled to provide the production most anticipated. That’s why you’re seeing a pretty wide spectrum of forecasts for Bowers’ draft slot at the end of this month.
In my opinion, Bowers’ draft range could stretch from Pick No. 10 (New York Jets) to No. 21 (Miami Dolphins). The Indianapolis Colts (No. 15), Seattle Seahawks (No. 16), and Cincinnati Bengals (No. 18) seem like possible teams he could end up with.
I’m quite confident that whoever drafts Bowers at the end of this month won’t regret it. This dude is a different breed, with instant-impact, superstar potential on any team that incorporates a plan to exploit all of his fantastic traits.
Five more first-round wild cards
- Draft ceiling: 9) Chicago Bears
- Draft floor: 19) Los Angeles Rams
Latu, the most skilled pass rusher of the 2024 class, has stirred up excitement among scouts due to his promising long-term potential as a disruptive player. The remarkable UCLA player’s edge-rushing skills led to 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss in the last two seasons. Standing at 6-5 and weighing 259 pounds, Latu displays a wide range of techniques to outmaneuver blockers. His opponents, who struggle to counter his diverse skills, fall prey to his clever Euro step, smooth two-handed swipe, and aggressive dip-and-rip move.
Scouts are highly interested in his potential as a top-tier pass-rushing specialist, however, his previous medical problem could potentially affect his final draft position. Latu had to retire from Washington in 2021 due to a severe neck injury. He later transferred to UCLA, got clearance to play, and subsequently shone for the Bruins. Still, his medical history creates an element of uncertainty about his draft position.
- Draft ceiling: 15) Indianapolis Colts
- Draft floor: 31) San Francisco 49ers
DeJean missed most of the pre-draft process, having suffered a broken leg this past November. But after putting on a sensational showing at his private workout this week, DeJean is shooting back up the charts as a late-rising prospect. He displays rare tools as a versatile defender with significant college experience as a cornerback, nickel and safety.
As a past high school track champion in Iowa, excelling in long jump and 100-meter dash, DeJean brings a dynamic athleticism and a variety of abilities that could significantly boost any defensive backfield. This former Hawkeyes standout has distinct playmaking skills that blend exceptional instincts, awareness, and athleticism on the field. While his versatility and dynamism are highly sought after by coaches, formulating an efficient strategy to fully utilize his decathlete talents in the back end poses a challenge. As a result, he’s a difficult prospect to predict.
- Draft ceiling: 13) Las Vegas Raiders
- Draft floor: 43) Atlanta Falcons
The specialist in deep-ball has excellent arm skills and innate abilities as a pocket passer. Penix dissects coverage with remarkable precision, demonstrating outstanding accuracy and ball placement in vertical throws. Penix’s highlight reel, filled with spectacular long passes soaring over the defense, will certainly attract teams seeking a fearless quarterback. The Washington standout will likely be high on their list of priorities.
Although Penix has shown moments of brilliance, his value is diminished due to his long history of injuries (four season-ending injuries at Indiana before his transfer to Washington) and his limited adaptability to certain systems (he struggles as a central field, timing-based passer). It’s debatable whether his impressive statistics were a result of Kalen DeBoer’s dynamic college offense rather than an indication of superior skill.
- Draft ceiling: 17) Jacksonville Jaguars
- Draft floor: 28) Buffalo Bills
The LSU standout ranks a notch below the “Big Three” wideouts of this class (Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze), but he is among the few wideouts in the class with true WR1 potential. A gifted pass catcher with a smooth stride and sneaky acceleration, Thomas is a big-play machine, as evidenced by his average of 17.3 yards per catch and nation-leading 17 touchdown grabs.
While some perceive Thomas as a limited vertical threat incapable of running the full route tree, I see inherent talent that positions him as a potential early WR2 with the possibility of becoming a WR1.
- Draft ceiling: 13) Las Vegas Raiders
- Draft floor: 30) Baltimore Ravens
The extra-extra-large offensive tackle has the raw tools to blossom into a premier NFL player. Mims’ rare combination of size (6-foot-8, 340 pounds), length (36 1/8-inch arms and 11 1/4-inch hands) and athleticism to stonewall edge rushers with unpolished technique. Though a few tweaks to his game could lead to consistent dominance on the edges, the Georgia product might spend most of his career crushing defenders as a mauler/brawler on the perimeter.
The 2024 class is rich in offensive tackles with a more refined game, which could cause Mims’ draft stock to decrease slightly. Scouts may question his lack of experience, with only eight career starts at Georgia, against his future potential. As a former five-star recruit with prime traits, his long-term potential is considerable.
