Two Georgia Bulldogs expected to be first-round picks later this month were unable to perform in their school’s pro day last month. Tight end Brock Bowers and offensive tackle Amarius Mims both hosted a private workout that saw a few teams in attendance, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Neither player really performed usual pro day activities, forgoing the 40-yard dash or any jumping or agility testing. Mims didn’t even weigh in. In reality, the day saw the two go through a few position drills with Bowers running routes and Mims attempting some line drills.
Both players had tightrope surgeries during the college season to repair high-ankle sprains. They should be able to heal in time for their rookie seasons, but the recovery has kept them from participating in pre-draft activities. It doesn’t appear that the work outs did much to affect either player’s draft stock.
Tight ends coaches for the Giants, Jets, and Broncos were reportedly on hand to watch Bowers, according to Breer and Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com. ESPN’s Matt Miller tells us that the Colts are reportedly very interested in Bowers, as well. One of his sources claims that Indianapolis would “run the card in” if Bowers is still available by the 15th pick of the draft.
Here are a few other rumors surrounding the 2024 NFL Draft:
- One of the teams on hand to view Bowers, the Giants could be viewing the tight end as a backup plan. Many have pegged New York as a team that could potentially attempt to move up from their No. 6 overall pick to draft a quarterback in the top four picks. As we move closer to the decisive day, though, it’s looking less and less likely. According to Miller at ESPN, the Giants are expected to stay at sixth overall (a perfect place to find Bowers) and attempt to draft a passer with their No. 47 overall pick in the second round. At that point of the draft, they expect that options like Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix may still be available. The team still claims to be committed to starting quarterback Daniel Jones, but the veteran’s inability to stay on the field has led New York to explore options to replace him, according to Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports.
- Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, born Ga’Quincy, has had a busy spring full of pre-draft visits. Since earlier reported visits with the Jaguars, Buccaneers, Lions, and Packers, we’ve seen reported visits with four more teams. Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tells us that McKinstry visited the Titans on Tuesday, and Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report informs us of visits with the Eagles, Giants, and Falcons, as well. McKinstry and his teammate, Terrion Arnold, have been extremely popular with the several teams who view cornerback as a position of need in 2024. McKinstry’s recovery from surgery on a foot fracture continues to heal nicely as he stays on track to return in time for his rookie season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Given the Waller retirement rumors, and the lack of success at that position anyway, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take Bowers. The Giants need another tackle badly still, though, and that’s one position that hasn’t been discussed. They also need a receiver, obviously, and we’re just talking about offensive needs.
Taking a QB might be an upgrade, it might not be, but given these other needs that won’t just disappear, I don’t think that they have to that route at six. If Bowers is there, they can address a need that they’ve had for a while. However, I’d give strong consideration to Alt if he’s there, or to other linemen if they have one highly rated. Receiver would also be good, but there could be a couple in round two (Xavier Legette, for instance) who have a chance to be a number one, so the Giants could aim for that. I’m wary of them taking another QB and throwing him into the same situation that Jones was, thereby treading water or moving sideways.
This makes sense, but the top three receiver prospects are such clean prospects with very little question of their translatability to the NFL. Bowers is a very good prospect, but the track record of first round tight ends is a little too bleak for me to feel comfortable taking one at six when there are still blue chippers on the board. There will be very good receivers taken after the first round, but the odds of picking the right one diminish greatly. They could also likely land someone like Sanders out of Texas with their second rounder.
Fair points. I think either way, I’d rather go those routes (no pun intended) than go quarterback as NYG. Envisioning two solid and relatively young tackles on that line just makes the team seem much better to me, even before considering their other picks. I do ‘t Bowers would a wrong necessarily, better than QB in my mind, but I agree that TE in general that high seems more like a move for a team with a more established offense that needs an addition rather than a foundational piece.
Bowers at 6 would be the definition of a reach. He is a good receiver but not a good blocker. When you pick that high you are looking for a dominant player.
If I’m a Giants fan, I think I’d rather see a lineman, or a receiver, than Bowers. But I’d rather see Bowers than a quarterback. He actually isn’t that bad a blocker, he’s just not built very heavily, which will be limiting in the pros at that spot. If the Giants had a more solid offense, he’d fit better, but I think that, while Bowers may not be necessarily the BEST choice, he’d be a better choice than a QB right now. If the Giants go up there and announce Joe Alt or Odunze/Nabers as the pick, I think they’d have done the best job that they could have.
“If I’m a Giants fan, I think I’d rather see a lineman, or a receiver, than Bowers. But I’d rather see Bowers than a quarterback.”
While I think Bowers is a reach at 6, I totally agree with this. I would also rather they take Bowers than a QB.
This I agree with as well. I don’t see any TE’s as top 10 picks. They take too long to truly develop in the NFL. Then again, I am a Falcons fan and we drafted a physical trait TE that has no concept of how to sit in holes in a zone and let the defense ‘run him open’ rather than just flowing with the D.
Bowers is a more technically sound player than Pitts, and I think that will help him, but top 10 TE’s are just not a good idea when there is more cost value at other positions.
He is vastly underrated as a blocker. He is better at it than given credit, but the issue is really more of the fact he was designed as a ‘peel’ blocker at UGA. His role was generally not intended to hold blocks except on a few outside gap runs, and he performed very well.
I really think this whole blocking thing was simply scouts trying to find a weakness and there was nothing else so they landed on that and now everyone is repeating it like it’s some huge weakness, when his blocking is well above average for a TE with his route running and YAC skill set.
As a Giants fan, I want either Nabors (or miraculously, MHJ) or Alt (maybe Fashanu). Bowers would be a reach unless they trade back, maybe with the Vikings at 11. The last thing I want is a QB. They need to fix the OL and get some offensive weapons before they think about a QB, lest they repeat the same mistake with Jones at 6, who has played behind a horrible OL almost his entire time in the league and has had almost zero good WR as well.
I completely agree. You’ve got to be strong up front. I’m sure Giants’ fans remember their strong offensive lines of the past being key elements to their success (as well as dominant defenses, of course). Take Joe Alt at 6 and then, as they say in Jersey, “fahgetabahhtit.”
Agreed with both.
I would take Alt, but don’t think the Giants will.