The Las Vegas Raiders don't have much to hang their hats on in the midst of a lost 2024 season, but first-round pick and tight end Brock Bowers has been one of the lone bright spots for head coach Antonio Pierce's squad.
Bowers was widely considered a generational talent at the position coming out of college, and he has looked the part through nine games. The Georgia product is third among rookie pass-catchers in receiving yards, and he ranks first among tight ends in the same category.
Making his showing more impressive is the fact that Bowers has had to overcome an awful situation at quarterback. Gardner Minshew has been bad, plain and simple, and Aidan O'Connell hasn't gotten much of a chance after suffering an injury.
With what we've seen from Bowers this season, it's impossible not to put his name in the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year - that is, unless you're Pro Football Network's Adam H. Beasley, who didn't even have Bowers as an honorable mention in an article picking midseason award winners.
Beasley understandably picks Washington Commanders stud rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels for the award, but Bowers was snubbed in the honorable mentions section in favor of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
While Nix and Thomas Jr. are having impressive rookie seasons, it's way too early to be putting Maye in the conversation. Adding to that, none of those three players are operating as arguably the best at their position in the entire league the way Bowers has been, which puts him a step above.
We get it, quarterbacks always get the preference for major awards, and Daniels is most definitely the favorite to win OROY right now. But Bowers has done more than enough to be in the conversation.
