Jaguars could soon take top TE prospect Brock Bowers off their draft board
Tight end Brock Bowers could make plenty of NFL teams happy in 2024. Expected to go in the first round, Bowers is the kind of player that can add a whole new dimension to an offense. The fact that he's a well-rounded prospect without any major weakness could make him go in the top 10. That said, there are a handful of reasons the Jacksonville Jaguars could pass on him even if he were available at No. 17.
Bowers skipped workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine, which makes sense when you take into account that he cannot do much to boost his stock ahead of the draft. Why should he expose himself to getting hurt? Teams have plenty of tape of him, so their perception of him shouldn't change much based on his decision not to do drills.
On the other hand, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports says he didn't do well in job interviews, per Billy Marshall of Blue Wire Podcasts on Twitter.
From an outside perspective, it's hard to tell what Prisco meant. Perhaps clubs weren't thrilled with the way Bowers came across or maybe they were turned off by a comment he made. Regardless of the reason, it's hard to tell what really went on without having inside access to the interview process.
Back in Super Bowl week, Bowers said that he would like to go to the Tennessee Titans, and there will be no shortage of teams who may want to take him before the Jaguars are on the clock. However, it's not uncommon for draft prospects to slide in the draft. Just last year, Antonio Johnson, who was projected to go late in the first or early in the second, lasted until the fifth.
This is to say that Bowers may be available at No. 17 but that doesn't mean the Jaguars should turn a card with his name on it.
Brock Bowers at No. 17 would be an unnecessary luxury for the Jaguars
Make no mistake, Brock Bowers is one of the most talented tight end prospects in recent years but the Jacksonville Jaguars have no need for him right now. Evan Engram is coming off a pair of banner seasons. He just signed an extension last offseason, so he's not going anywhere anytime soon. On top of that, the Jags drafted Brenton Strange in Round 2 last year.
While it's true that Bowers is a much better prospect than Strange, it would be odd for the Jaguars to pick yet another tight end after investing so many resources at the position the past two years. Granted, Strange left much to be desired in his rookie campaign but he's got the tools to eventually develop into a steady contributor in Jacksonville.
When you take into account that tight end ranks near the cellar among the Jaguars' needs this offseason, it's hard to see them taking Brock Bowers at No. 17. Make no mistake, he's a stud but he would be an unnecessary luxury with Engram and Brenton Strange in the fold.