Harrison Bryant, a tight end, was one of the first experienced free agents the Las Vegas Raiders signed this offseason. After the team selected Brock Bowers with a first-round pick, he will no longer be the team’s second-choice tight end behind Michael Mayer.
According to David Kenyon of Bleacher Report, Bryant may be on the roster bubble because Mayer and Bowers will be the top two tight ends.
In a column published on May 19, Kenyon stated, “Harrison Bryant signed with the Raiders earlier this offseason, which in a vacuum makes this a head-scratching move.” Though after obtaining Michael Mayer the previous year, I didn’t think Las Vegas would select Brock Bowers! Although Bryant has more experience as a tight end than Zach Gentry, the Raiders may no longer be considering him.
Bryant was a John Mackey Award winner in college, thus the Raiders have two on the roster. Bryant isn’t the receiver that Mayer or Bowers are, but he’s the best blocker of the three. If the Raiders opt to keep him, he’ll make an excellent No. 3 tight end. The team is expected to be inventive in how it uses Mayer and Bowers as receivers, so Bryant may still play a role as a more typical tight end.
Antonio Pierce Has High Praise for Brock Bowers
The Raiders probably didn’t expect to choose Bowers this year. Tight end wasn’t a significant need, therefore he was projected to go before the No. 13 choice. However, Bowers’ skill set was simply too valuable to pass up, according to head coach Antonio Pierce.
“I mean, you’re talking about probably the most dynamic player in college football at that tight end position in a long time,” Pierce said during a media availability on May 10. “It’s unusual to find a player who can line up as a slot receiver, see him in the backfield, reverse, and grab the ball. However, I believe that his tenacity is more vital. Watching him block in the SEC and get after players was what impressed me the most. “Just a gritty player, and more importantly, a winner, who can help us score points.”
There’s nothing wrong with adding more good players, even if they’re not needed. If Bowers and Mayer perform as well as they did in college, the Raiders will have the best tight end tandem in the NFL. With Bryant in the mix, the team could have the best overall tight end room in the league.
Can Brock Bowers Win OROY?
It’s easy to envision Bowers making an immediate impact in the NFL. He is the only college football player to have won the John Mackey Award twice, and he possesses a unique skill set for a tight end. The only thing that could prevent him from becoming a top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate is quarterback play.
Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell lead one of the NFL’s weakest quarterback rooms. The squad also has a lot of mouths to feed on offense, and without a great quarterback, it may be difficult for all of the team’s weapons to produce stats.
