Breaking: Colts Are Closing In On Deal To Sign $40.12 Elite TE With Great Athleticism
This is not a drill: Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard is trying to trade up on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Why? Because he wants to sign Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, according to Kelsey Kramer of A to Z Sports, on April 8.
“In fact, a source tells A to Z Sports that the Colts are a team that’s working the phones to trade up into the Top 10 for the former Georgia star,” Kramer stated in an email.
Bowers is a top tight end prospect. Indy is hoping to add talent around second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson through the draft, and this rookie can make an immediate impact in the passing game.
What to Know About Brock Bowers
Bowers is more than simply an excellent talent; he’s one of the top tight end prospects in recent years.
Bowers is 6-foot-3 and weighs 240 pounds, so his size will not surprise you. However, he will astound you with his athleticism, receiving abilities, and blocking ability for his size.
Bowers concluded his career at Georgia with 175 receptions, 2,538 receiving yards, and 31 total touchdowns (26 receiving, 5 rushing) in 35 games, according to Sports Reference.
Bowers, a two-time National Champion and two-time AP All-American, is the only tight end to lead a national championship team in receiving yards since 1985.
Simply put: Bowers does things that not many folks his size can.
Why Does Brock Bowers Make Sense for Indy?
The Indianapolis Colts already have Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, and Moe Alie-C0x on their roster, so there is no pressing need to add more tight end talent. But Bowers is so good that he’s worth prioritizing in the draft.
Though all three of the aforementioned players have offered their value to Indy in spurts, none possess the skill of Bowers. With all due respect to the Colts’ existing tight end room, Bowers is several tiers above them in terms of skill, particularly on the receiving end.
Indy wants to add another elite playmaker to Richardson’s arsenal. The team knows that they will likely have to trade way up into the top 10 — maybe the top 7 — to acquire one of the top 3 receiver prospects (Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, Malik Nabers).
The Colts could stick put in the hopes of picking LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the mid-first round. However, there is no assurance that he will still be on the board when the 15th overall pick is made, and he lacks the potential peak that Bowers possesses.
So Bowers, an exceptional receiver in his own right, is the next best choice among the draft’s top pass catchers who may be available in the tail of the top ten picks.
The Colts may approach the Chicago Bears, who currently have the 9th overall pick in the first round.
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held from April 25 to April 27 in Detroit, Michigan. ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network will all broadcast the three-day event.
The Colts have one selection in each round of this year’s draft: No. 15, No. 46, No. 82, No. 117, No. 151, No. 191, and No. 124.
