I’m inclined to think the Saints would ideally like to leave this draft w/ Bowers (1 Viewer)

[Joey bourque]

OT and WR are the two obvious choices for additions. There are very few mocks that don’t have us taking either or in the 1st two rounds.

Even Underhill/Trip have listed those two positions as must, and most of their discussions are around the top 3-4 Olineman or the available pass catchers.

I’m not convinced, that either are a preference w/ the 1st pick.

Hunter Renfrow and Andrus Peat are still sitting out there in FA. Coincidentally both could slot right in and give meaningful snaps on offense.

Both, IMHO could beat out any rookie available at 14.

Now, never mind the obvious, Bowers would give you a bit of both worlds. An extra blocker on the line in heavy TE sets and as an obvious Joker type receiver that can move all across the formation.

However, my biggest clue is…the emphasis on the quick passing game. That type of offense is meant to minimize the struggles of an offensive line and cover up holes. IMHO that reduces the emphasis for elite talent on the line and instead puts it on receiving options.

But not just any type of receiving option, they have to be able to get RAC. The best player at RAC in this draft is hands down Bowers.

And he’s 243 LBs so he’ll be durable. Slot DBs will be a tough matchup and he’ll be too agile for LBs.

Now, he did struggle a bit w/ 50/50 balls and he’s also not an elite prospect. He’s got average arm length, average height, average weight for a TE etc but his super power is he breaks tackles effortlessly. It’s kind of akin to how Kamara just absorbs contact, perhaps you could attribute it to core strength. Whatever it is, it elevates everything else about his game.

Yet, w/ the negatives (hardly negatives but the league does lean towards size/weight/speed) he’s likely not going to be considered a top 10 pick.

Conveniently the teams ahead of us have bigger needs than TE, and someone will trade up or reach for a QB outside the top 10, potentially knocking him right to us.

If you hold tight and nab Bowers you can pencil in resigning Peat to play LT(where he’ll stay healthier than his time at LG, less bodies and trash) and have Landon Young and Trevor Penning compete for RT.

You still have Hurst as a backup option at LT and you also have Salidevri as someone who can compete at LG if you are unable to draft someone at that spot (though the should still use a pick on one)

I feel strongly that having Peat/Renfrow on speed dial options makes WR/OT needs/wants. Similar to when we signed Honey Badger sometime after the draft. Word is that year we were interested in getting Jaquan Briskett in 2nd round and he went just before us to the bears.

We called Honey Badger and have been no worse off. This feels very similar

He will be a top 8 pick. Are you ready to trade up?

 

[tyler735]

I thought I clarified it. Bowers is not a size/weight/speed guy. The NFL, falls in love with athletic guys...especially at the top of the draft. For instance Kyle Pitts at 6'6 250 33 inch arms, 10 1/2 inch hands 4.40 w/ good/great production is the type of guy teams will draft in the top 10. Bowers is 6'3, 243 9 3/4 hands and 32 3/4 and a 4.55 40 is a step below him if we’re talking athletic potential. He won't have same catch radius, or field stretching ability.

Going to nitpick again. There’s a good chance he is much faster than the “estimated” 40 time some websites have given him or his 4.5 time as a Sophomore in High School. Bowers had 16 plays of 30+ yards, 9 plays of 40+ yards and 5 plays of 70+ yards while at Georgia. Those are incredible big play numbers for a TE, especially one playing in the SEC.

By comparison, Pitts has just 1 play of 70+ yards and just 6 plays of 40+ yards in both his college and NFL careers combined.

This type of explosive ability is not normal for a TE. He’s completely outrunning an entire secondary

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Going to nitpick again. There’s a good chance he is much faster than the “estimated” 40 time some websites have given him or his 4.5 time as a Sophomore in High School. Bowers had 16 plays of 30+ yards, 9 plays of 40+ yards and 5 plays of 70+ yards while at Georgia. Those are incredible big play numbers for a TE, especially one playing in the SEC.

By comparison, Pitts has just 1 play of 70+ yards and just 6 plays of 40+ yards in both his college and NFL careers combined.

This type of explosive ability is not normal for a TE. He’s completely outrunning an entire secondary

Why nitpick? He ran a 4.55 at his proday, that's not estimated. The explosiveness shows up in his 40inch vertical that he recorded. I understand why you're nitpicking and it's because I said he's not an elite prospect, but that's by NFL standards...nitpick them not me.

He will be a top 8 pick. Are you ready to trade up?

Don't see it, but If I was worried about him not getting past 12 I'd entertain a trade with the Broncos that included Taysom.

 

[RaginCajun83]

He will be a top 8 pick. Are you ready to trade up?

Agree here, I just don't see him being available at 14

 

[SaintJ]

If he's there at 14, he's most likely BPA, and I think you have to take him.

Good post by the OP.

 

[2009ring]

Should we really go back and read other players who have been busts with lines like that in draft analysis? A line from a random analyst does not mean anything.

Ever since Jimmy Graham left we've had a huge hole in that position. And yes it can be a bust, but so can any of these QB's that will go high and that won't prevent the teams there from taking him.

If Jared Cook doesn't fumble the ball, Brady doesn't get it 7th ring and we might have another. Tired of this position being ignored.

 

[St. Widge]

Ideally, they don't want to go into the season with a rookie on the offensive line. I listened to an interview with ML before last season and he was discussing the amount of change on the O-line and how even changing 1 player made a huge difference to the line learning how to play together, the time it takes and the lack of practice/game time to really gell. Add in changing more than 1 player and a rookie in there and it takes a long time. Based on that discussion combined with how the line started to play better down the stretch, the change in scheme, it is looking more like they will draft Ram's replacement and Penning will be the LT, new player at LG, McCoy, Ruiz, Ram for the rest. Peat as insurance.

I mean, if they really don't want to change the line due to continuity, why didn't they already sign Peat to start at LT?

I understand Mickey's point of view, but with the Ram injury and losing your staring LT in Peat, the entire line is going to have to change anyway. And, given that we are moving to a new scheme which will require starting all over in learning to play together, now is a good time to get better/young talent on the OL and let them learn together.

 

[St. Widge]

I think you can move up from 14 to about 9 for a future 2nd rounder and some day 3 picks. Not sure I would do two 1st rounders straight up... I'd be looking to get something back in that case (like a 2nd or 3rd next year).... but I'd consider it depending on the parameters for sure... because I think he's a special player.

With that said, I also believe that we can get an (potential starting caliber) OT this year in the 2nd round... that would likely be a 1st rounder in the 2025 draft... so I am more than fine with waiting on Oline help in this draft if we have a shot at a generational player like Bowers.

I'm not sure I'd move up for a future 1st or a future 2nd because as mentioned, this team isn't one or two players away. They need to keep all the picks they have in the top 100 of every draft and look for ways to get more. The only player I think this team should trade into the top 10 for is a franchise QB. If we had that and the other pieces in place to make a run, I would feel different about using future high picks to get Bowers. We aren't a Bowers away from contending, but if he falls to #14 then he's a great player to build the offense around.

I'm hopeful that they can get a starting caliber OT in the 2nd, but the way I've seen mock drafts falling, I'm not sure that one will last that long that fits the scheme. Mocks aren't incredibly useful and can often be wildly wrong, but it seems to be pretty consistent that they will be a run on OTs before the Saints pick at #45. So, I think they are going to have to move up into the bottom of the first or late second for a starting caliber OT. Which to me means, they really can't afford to give up any high rounds picks to move up for Bowers because they will have to use picks to move up to get an OT if they take him.

Ideally, they get Bowers at #14 and then move up for an OT in the late first or early second. And if Bowers is gone by #14, you take BPA which is likely an OT and then a pass catcher at #45.

 

[tyler735]

Why nitpick? He ran a 4.55 at his proday, that's not estimated. The explosiveness shows up in his 40inch vertical that he recorded. I understand why you're nitpicking and it's because I said he's not an elite prospect, but that's by NFL standards...nitpick them not me.

Again, that's an estimated time. He didn't run any testing at either of the Georgia Pro Days (see tweet below). His last recorded time in the 40 was a 4.5 as a Sophomore in High School. Which is why I provided all the supporting evidence of his elite explosiveness in my previous post with his elite ability to make big plays that has dwarfed even Kyle Pitts ability to make big plays when combining his College/NFL career's (6 seasons).

Brock Bowers is rated by the vast majority of media, draftniks, and scouts that have commented on him as an elite TE prospect that is up there with the best TE prospects. He finds himself in a unique position in this draft with the sheer amount of QB's expected to go early along with 3 WR's that are also expected to go top 10. In most drafts Bowers is a sure fire top 10 pick. This draft "might" work out differently due to unique circumstances.

 

[St. Widge]

Don't see it, but If I was worried about him not getting past 12 I'd entertain a trade with the Broncos that included Taysom.

Now this is a price I would be willing to pay. That would still leave us with the picks we need to move up to get an OT that fits the scheme. And, Bowers can do many of the things that Taysom does. He's not going to run QB Power, but he can do all the other things and better. Plus, I'm not sure that QB Power is going to be a big part of the offense under Kubiak.

But, it all depends on if Sean moves up for a QB or if there is a QB at #12 that Sean likes.

 

[Saint Greg]

Offensive line protects the quarterback and opens holes for the RB. It does nothing for the defense.

Ball control keeps the defense off the field. Moving the chains however you can do it.

Sure it does. Doing both of those things keeps the offense on the field and allows the defense more time to rest. Good luck moving the chains with an OL that can't protect to the QB or open holes for the RB.

 

[scott88]

this draft is suggesting Saints to trade 14 to Carolina (who pick Bowers) and NO gets both their second round picks

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Marvin Harrison Jr. Falls Outside Top 5

With the NFL Draft around the corner, Ian Valentino provides his latest predictions for the first round, including perfect landing spots for...

www.the33rdteam.com

Fit: How shocking would this intradivisional trade be? The New Orleans Saints probably wouldn't love how the board has played out to this point, while the Carolina Panthers have two ripe second-round picks that almost perfectly equal the value of the 14th overall pick. The Panthers desperately need another playmaker but have otherwise filled most needs through free agency.

Brock Bowers is worth adding for this cost and would immediately headline a lacking tight end group

 

[St. Widge]

Agree here, I just don't see him being available at 14

Yep. I think any team that might take a WR also might take Bowers since he's really more of a pass catcher than a TE. So, I could see Chicago, Giants, Jets, or even the Chargers taking Bowers. Or I could see a contender moving up to get him as the final piece to their team.

 

[Saint Greg]

I think the FO's moves at LT this offseason are an indication of where they feel Penning will be, and that is the starting LT. If they didn't think he was going to be the guy, they would have already resigned Peat.

I think we're waiting to see who we get in the draft. Peat will still be there after the draft.

 

[St. Widge]

this draft is suggesting Saints to trade 14 to Carolina (who pick Bowers) and NO gets both their second round picks

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Marvin Harrison Jr. Falls Outside Top 5

With the NFL Draft around the corner, Ian Valentino provides his latest predictions for the first round, including perfect landing spots for...

www.the33rdteam.com

Fit: How shocking would this intradivisional trade be? The New Orleans Saints probably wouldn't love how the board has played out to this point, while the Carolina Panthers have two ripe second-round picks that almost perfectly equal the value of the 14th overall pick. The Panthers desperately need another playmaker but have otherwise filled most needs through free agency.

Brock Bowers is worth adding for this cost and would immediately headline a lacking tight end group

I have long thought like Elias that the Saints really want Bowers. I see no way they trade out of the first, even for two 2nds, with Bowers on the board. We all know Loomis does not move down, but while I could see him moving down a few spots this year, I see no way he trades out of the 1st. Especially not with a player I think they really want on the board.

Not to mention that it would give Young an easy outlet target that he really needs which would help a division rival.