By Joey Aliberti
There’s no positional need for the New Orleans Saints that’s clearer than offensive tackle.
The team drafted Trevor Penning in the first round of the 2022 draft. The left tackle started six games over the past two seasons and was benched this past season. Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has knee issues and might not even play this season. The Saints made a few moves in free agency thus far, none of which were offensive tackles.
With the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and the deepest offensive tackle class in a while, it makes all the sense in the world to grab one there. But Brock Bowers could very well throw a wrench in those plans.
The two-time Mackey Award winner (best tight end in college football) garners rave reviews from NFL scouts. At 6-foot-3, 243 pounds he moves like a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. He lined up all over the field in his three years at Georgia, including the backfield. Of his 31 total touchdowns five were on the ground.
NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah compared him to George Kittle, as have other draft analysts. He’s a clear top-10 talent who won’t go as high because of the slew of talented quarterbacks and wide receivers at the top of the draft.
Recent mock drafts have Bowers landing 10th overall to the New York Jets. But there have also been a couple where he’s slipped down to New Orleans. New Orleans has tight ends Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau on the roster, none of whom had more than 370 yards this past season.
“I certainly think that’s an area, in terms of a pass-catcher, not necessarily a wide receiver, but a pass-catcher, is something we’re going to continue to look at,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said this week at the NFL owners meetings.
Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara are the only players on the roster who ever had more than 800 receiving yards in a single season. Rashid Shaheed shows promise; he had 46 catches for 719 yards and five touchdowns in his second season.
Bowers is the best non-wide receiver pass-catching option in this draft. New Orleans had a good couple years with Jared Cook, but haven’t had a high-caliber tight end since the Jimmy Graham days. The Saints desperately need offensive line help, but talents such as Bowers rarely fall into your lap.
