I’m inclined to think the Saints would ideally like to leave this draft w/ Bowers (2 Viewers)

[lilvipa221]

that's NLF.com's opening line of Bowers' analysis

Yes please. Exactly what we need.

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.

 

[lilvipa221]

Every draft prospect is a crap shoot, so everyone who is saying that Bowers is some can't miss prospect absolutely can be wrong and he could be a bust.

The Saints do not have the luxury to take a chance and possibly miss on a tight end when you have 2 legitimate offensive lineman on the roster. One is really good and the other is just average.

 

[saint_drago]

Every draft prospect is a crap shoot, so everyone who is saying that Bowers is some can't miss prospect absolutely can be wrong and he could be a bust.

The Saints do not have the luxury to take a chance and possibly miss on a tight end when you have 2 legitimate offensive lineman on the roster. One is really good and the other is just average.

I go back and forth on it. I think it would be a luxury pick considering our needs on the O line but if Bowers is still on the board then the top Tackles are probably gone. So if the BPA is Brock Bowers then I can get behind that. The problem is that if you go TE in the first then that puts us behind the 8 ball and we could be stuck drafting for need at Tackle, Guard, and pass rush.

But I keep asking myself, are the Saints really heading into next season with an O line made up of rookies and back up caliber players? Penning and Ram are huge question marks. Are we going to roll with rookie bookends if Penning can't play a lick and Ram is done? Are we going to count on whatever mid to late round Guard we pick up to come in and start from day one?

I guess my point is that the O line is going to be a mess regardless. Even if a LT like Joe Alt fell in our lap, that could solve the LT problem but then we still have RT and LG. Not to mention depth. We have two legit, NFL caliber starters that we can count on. It's not ideal. I don't think it's a problem that can be solved with one draft.

 

[webster]

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

TE is a huge hole. Hopefully Bowers is still on the board.

 

[Saint Greg]

Never stopped them before...

That’s why we have so many needs now. Trades and missing on too many picks we did make. It’s definitely different now. This isn’t the last piece of the puzzle. We have no 3rd or 4th. It wouldn’t take much for next years pick to be a very high pick. Any trade up that gives up this years 2 or next years 1 or 2 shouldn’t happen unless it’s a franchise QB.

 

[Infoman]

I think they take Rome or OT

This is my hope too.... but we can't let some team "Mahommes" us either.... and jump up to 12 or 13 and grab him.

And anyone questioning Bowers not being one of the top 5 overall players in this draft (outside of QB), or saying he's just a TE.... obviously hasn't watched him play.... You should do that instead of reading draft profile snips.... the guy dominated the SEC as a freshman.... and never stopped (he wasn't hiding). He's a can't miss 3 level weapon. Not some physical freak of a projection. He's coming in on day 1 ready to transform a bad offense somewhere.... I'd like that to be us.

He's not just a player that helps this year... He's a franchise building block in the mold of guys like Kelce, Kittle, Gates, Witten, and Gonzales. You do what you have to do to land guys like that.

Also, this team is not an OT/WR from being a contender... I want cornerstone guys to be drafted high... not need picks for the current coach that will likely (hopefully) be replaced by the time the next draft gets here. And since I think the next head coach is already hired by the team (Kubiak) I want to see him have a cornerstone player that fits his offense... that's Bowers.

 

[Snakehead]

I go back and forth on it. I think it would be a luxury pick considering our needs on the O line but if Bowers is still on the board then the top Tackles are probably gone. So if the BPA is Brock Bowers then I can get behind that. The problem is that if you go TE in the first then that puts us behind the 8 ball and we could be stuck drafting for need at Tackle, Guard, and pass rush.

But I keep asking myself, are the Saints really heading into next season with an O line made up of rookies and back up caliber players? Penning and Ram are huge question marks. Are we going to roll with rookie bookends if Penning can't play a lick and Ram is done? Are we going to count on whatever mid to late round Guard we pick up to come in and start from day one?

I guess my point is that the O line is going to be a mess regardless. Even if a LT like Joe Alt fell in our lap, that could solve the LT problem but then we still have RT and LG. Not to mention depth. We have two legit, NFL caliber starters that we can count on. It's not ideal. I don't think it's a problem that can be solved with one draft.

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.

 

[tyler735]

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.

Yes to all of this. I have warmed up to the idea of getting Olu Fashanu if Bowers is off the board. I really do think Fashanu has high upside at LT as well, but Bowers is a true generational prospect at TE.

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.

Have to disagree a little here, he is arguably one of the best TE prospects ever and has the upside to be one of the best if not best in the NFL. Taking away positional importance, he is arguably a top 3 prospect in this draft class (Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr are up there with him). There's a narrative that he's a little undersized, but he's basically the exact same size as George Kittle, Sam Laporta, Dalton Kincaid, and Trey Mcbride who are among the top TE's in the league or are expected to be in the coming years. The difference is, Bowers is the best athlete out of all of them. He also has been said to have a 40" vertical, which at 6'3" means he definitely has the skillset to win on 50/50 balls. He's statistically been elite in this category. Here's a great thread below showing the overall dominance Bowers has displayed in several different areas as a prospect.

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

My thoughts as well. Draft is lining up in a way that could slide a premier prospect to us that wouldn't happen in most draft years. I'm not even that hell bent on bringing Renfrow in, but would be happy enough if he were to sign. Definitely would want Peat back though. Also wouldn't mind bringing someone like Dalton Risner in after the draft if he's still unsigned. Would be able to slot Peat and Risner in at LT and LG and have solid enough play this season and potentially next if it's a 2 year deal. This would also free up our 2nd round pick to take BPA as well.

 

[St. Geezy]

The approach to trading up is probably dictated by who you either think will draft the player you want, who is also ahead of you in the draft order, or who you think will be selling their picks to another bidder.

Hard to be 100% sure on either front, but probably relatively easy to know who will have enough needs or higher rated alternative(s) to select someone else instead.

The wheeler dealers picking before #14 and already looking to trade down are likely known to the teams, but not so much to Joe Public.

The riskier propositions are those teams who want a particular player or players, don't get them on the day of the draft and suddenly turn into sellers. That's the wild card. For example, if Minnesota can't trade up higher and don't get their guy at #11 (or Denver at #12), or if the Bears don't like the options at #9, do they look to trade down and add assets?

If I'm the Bears, I grab Bowers at 9.

 

[tjharris]

If I'm the Bears, I grab Bowers at 9.

This would be a smart move by Chicago to give Williams a safety value but their Oline is worse than ours, it would also be smart of them to trade down from 9 and try to draft at least 3 Olineman.

 

[TribuneUK]

If I'm the Bears, I grab Bowers at 9.

But do they think Kmet is good enough and look to fill other holes with multiple draft picks through trade instead? Wild card.

 

[Infoman]

The road block to Bowers at 14... Is the Jets at 10... and teams trading to get ahead of us at 12 and 13... I'd already be on the phone with the Bears at 9, and have Sean on speed dial should he get past 10.

He's a guy you can build your offense around for the next decade, and be the man for your next young QB once DC is out of here... not just some TE.

 

[Saintman2884]

Another Bowers thread...

He's gonna go top 12.

Drew, if by some miracle Bowers is still there at #14, we take him and 90% of this board will be happy, if not ecstatic with the pick.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I think Bowers is a talented TE. He's a little too undersized for the TE position in the NFL. If he adds bulk and remains as athletic that could be a good thing. I think we need to go OT again.

He's undersized for the game 10 years ago, his current size is ideal for the current NFL

Aside from disagreeing that Peat would beat out any tackle we took at 14, I agree with your write up and would be very happy if Bowers fell to us. Our TE room is one of the poorest in the league imo.

I'll be happy with either Bowers, any of the top tackles or a top wideout, at 14.

My logic in saying that is simple. Any rookie is a crapshoot...we learned that with Penning. Guy is an elite athlete at LT if you look at his RAS and should have been able to hold a starting job. So, I've give Peat the veteran nod over anyone to start out, could that player end up winning in camp...yes...but for now I'd say you know what you have in Peat...any rookie is a question mark no matter the talent.

EJ I don't understand what you mean right here when you say that he isn't an elite prospect? Like he doesn't have elite measurables? Or he's not an elite TE prospect?

I don't think he's the best TE prospect of all time like some people are saying but I do think he's one of the best ball players in this draft. Of all the pass catchers in the draft there are only a few I'd rather have. I'm trying to think of where he would fit in a list of the top TE prospects I've seen. Elite TE prospects like Vernon Davis, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow Jr, Greg Olsen,* Kyle Pitts, Hockenson.

(*The Hurricanes have had so many TEs it's absurd. I could list about five more Miami TEs just off the top of my head.)

Anyway, I'd love to see the Saints come away with Bowers. Having TEs who can rack up YAC are like cheat codes. For years I've watched these modern offenses dump the ball off to TEs who have miles of green grass in front of them. For years I've watched teams use the cheap short stuff to backs and TEs and absolutely destroy the Saints. I would like to do that. Clear out with the WRs and then let a playmaker go to work underneath. Could be a TE like Bowers or it could be a WR who excels at YAC.

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 were talking athletic potential. He won't have same catch radius, or field stretching ability.

In the eyes of the NFL is the keyword. So he's likely to escape the top 10, but not the top 15

 

[BreesHOF2024]

I'd absolutely be happy with Bowers and be excited to see him in black and gold. The prudent side of me still just thinks and feels we need to leave this draft with addressing LT or RT with a blue chip prospect.