Mike Tannenbaum: NFL teams likely view Brock Bowers as a receiver, not tight end

Brock Bowers is the best tight end in the NFL Draft. There really is no one questioning the status earned by the former Georgia star. However, many teams likely are viewing him as a receiver, albeit one with above average bulk.

Mike Tannenbaum, an NFL insider at ESPN and former GM of the New York Jets, said he loves Bowers as a player. But he doesn’t view him as a true tight end. That’s because tight ends usually block, and that’s not one of Bowers’ strong suits.

Tannenbaum then mentioned defensive-oriented coaches he used to be around, guys like Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Rex Ryan and Eric Mangini. Those coaches would recognize if Bowers was in the game, chances are the offenses wouldn’t be running.

“So I think the problem with Bowers is this. If those (coaches) were on this call … if not all, the majority that would say ‘Hey, we’re just gonna treat him like a receiver. Like we’re gonna treat him as like we’re going nickel,” Tannenbaum said. “We’re not going to worry about him blocking. So he’s really more of a receiver than he is somebody that can displace people at the line of scrimmage.

“Again, he’s a great player. I love him in the red zone like everybody else,” he said, adding “I don’t mean to minimize (his) ability. But when you say why Brock Bowers is not in the top five or the top 10 … If I was representing Brock Bowers or trying to give him the best advice. I would have told him two years ago. If you’re like an above average … blocker, you’ll be in the top five.”

Tannenbaum shared his first mock draft earlier this week. He projected Brock Bowers as the newest Eagle, with Philadelphia selecting him at No. 22 in the first round.

He wrote: “Could you imagine a personnel grouping of Bowers, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert with a healthy Jalen Hurts under center? Bowers had 2,538 receiving yards and 26 receiving TDs over three seasons, and he would give coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore matchup advantages. He has to improve his blocking, but I believe that will happen in time.”

Tannenbaum said it likely would take Bowers about two years to learn how to block well enough for the NFL.

“Right now, the way the game is being played, he’s, let’s call it, he’s a big receiver, a very, very talented player,” Tannenbaum said.

The former GM also said a team like the Indianapolis Colts could take Brock Bowers at No. 15. But other draft analysts are more bullish on Bowers. Bucky Brooks of NFL Network thinks the former Bulldog could end up with the New York Jets at No. 10.

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