Mel Kiper explains why Brock Bowers will go No. 10 overall to New York Jets

With the 2024 NFL Combine about to get underway, conversations about some of the top NFL Draft prospects like Georgia tight end Brock Bowers are firing up in earnest.

In his latest NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Bowers going No. 10 overall to the New York Jets. He has the Jets selecting Bowers over some needs elsewhere, primarily on the offensive line.

“That’s the thing, I’m with you. They need offensive line help, multiple (guys),” Kiper told ESPN’s Chris Russo on First Take on Wednesday. “But you can’t force it, and Brock Bowers for Aaron Rodgers would be special. Say, ‘Well he’s a tight end…’ Well he’s a receiving entity. He’s not a tight end. He’s an H-back, fullback, wide receiver, slot. He can do anything. You can move him around and he’s going to be a receiving entity. They need it opposite Garrett Wilson, to help out Garrett Wilson, right?”

Bowers certainly proved he can be that help with his collegiate playing days. He caught 175 passes in three years at Georgia, going for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns.

He also added five scores as a runner, showing he could be used in a variety of ways.

For Kiper, the pick for the Jets to select Bowers with the No. 10 overall pick boils down to some of the anticipated moves in front of them.

“So you think about the O-line, if a JC Latham, I have him going five to the Chargers,” Kiper said. “I have Joe Alt going seven to Tennessee, who could not protect Will Levis at all. It was ole block after ole block. And Will Levis held up really well now and I thought had a really good rookie year and showed promise going forward where he’s their quarterback. So the Jets if the right guy is there, yeah. If Alt or a Latham slides down there, Olu (Fashanu) at Penn State is in the mix certainly.”

That said, there’s a certain point where Brock Bowers becomes a slam dunk pick. He’s as close to a sure thing at tight end since former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts came out a few years ago.

That’s worth something to many NFL organizations.

“But I think Bowers, I had five in (mock draft) 1.0,” Kiper said. “Roman (Wilson) comes in as the coordinator, you go away from Bowers at five. So that gets Bowers down to that nine, 10 spot, to Chicago or the Jets. I think he’s too good to pass up. I think Brock Bowers, for that offense, for Aaron Rodgers, overrides the offensive line, which you can help in free agency and you have other draft picks beyond the first round.”