Georgia legend Brock Bowers makes history in ESPN's latest rankings

Georgia Bulldogs legend and current Las Vegas Raiders young star Brock Bowers made history in ESPN's latest Top 10 NFL tight end rankings. 

Coming in at No. 1 overall, Bowers is the first player to rank No. 1 at his position after his rookie year, even beating out San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle.

Here's what ESPN and coaches had to say about Bowers' ranking

He was the highest-graded overall player in the 2024 draft in the eyes of some NFL scouts, but the position he plays, coupled with a strong quarterback draft, dropped him to the No. 13 pick.

Sure, the Raiders needed a quarterback in the worst way, but there's no way they regret the selection of Bowers, who met expectations, then smashed them.

Among his Year 1 records: most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history (1,194), most receptions by a rookie at any position (112) and most receptions by any player in a single season in Raiders history.

"Great person, hard worker, instinctive, great hands, matchup problem due to his speed and athleticism with elite [run after catch] ability," an NFC executive said.

Added an NFL coordinator: "He sort of just floats around out there. Game comes naturally to him."

Bowers shattered multiple records last fall, including the all-time rookie receptions mark with 112 catches, surpassing Puka Nacua’s previous record. He also broke Mike Ditka’s long-standing rookie tight end receiving yards record, racking up 1,194 yards along with 5 touchdowns. His 596 yards after the catch led all NFL tight ends, showcasing his dynamic playmaking ability.

In addition to setting a new Raiders franchise record for single-season receptions, Bowers earned First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. His Pro Football Focus grade of 85.1 was the highest ever for a rookie tight end and trailed only George Kittle and Trey McBride among all tight ends in 2024.

Bowers’ immediate impact as a rookie redefined expectations for the tight end position and confirmed his status as a future NFL superstar.