How early is too early for a mock draft?!
Normally I’d say that 10+ months is simply ridiculous, but given that it’s still July and we're three weeks away from NFL Training Camps beginning, now’s actually the perfect time to take a 30,000-foot view of next year’s prospect pool.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid recently published a way-too-early first-round mock for next April's draft and, using ESPN's Football Power Index, has the Patriots picking 12th overall. Here's who he has them bringing to Foxborough:
“12. New England Patriots - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Hunter Henry is entering the final season of his contract and Mike Gesicki signed for just one year this offseason, so the Patriots' long-term outlook at tight end past this year remains unclear. Quarterback Mac Jones is in desperate need of pass-catching options, and Bowers would be a dynamic target. He is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound game-changer who is physical at the catch point. Bowers is also a run-and-catch threat, privy to turning short catches into explosive scoring plays. He led all tight ends in receiving yards (942) and yards after the catch (523) last season, and he has the ability to unlock another dimension of the playbook for any NFL offense.”
Brock Bowers is the best tight end prospect we’ve seen since Florida’s Kyle Pitts, winning the John Mackey Award in 2022 as the nation’s best tight end and developing into now-Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett’s favorite target over the last several seasons at Georgia.
The 6-foot-4 athletic specimen hauled in 63 catches for 972 yards and three touchdowns during last year’s campaign as he helped lead the Bulldogs to their second national title in as many seasons. Bowers has incredible ball skills, can easily get off of press coverage, and is lightning-quick (at least for a tight end). His ability to break tackles in the open field against anyone he's matched up with is what separates him from the rest of the pack.
While New England’s tight end room looks good right now, and as Reid points out, Hunter Henry is heading into a contract year and Gesicki is only on the books for 2023. Should Henry not sign an extension and Gesicki under-perform/not re-sign tight end will be a major hole heading into the 2024 season.
Brock Bowers would be, without a doubt, the best way to fill said hole through the NFL Draft.
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