The Las Vegas Raiders were back in the building last month for their voluntary offseason program—but their offensive star Brock Bowers was nowhere to be seen. As it turns out, he had a very good reason.
Brock Bowers Is Already Thinking About Life After Football
Bowers hit the ground running as a rookie, delivering immediate value as the 13th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Raiders’ standout tight end led all players at his position in receptions and receiving yards, finishing with 1,194 yards. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod in his debut season.
That production is even more impressive considering the Raiders’ revolving door at quarterback. Bowers caught passes from a mix of Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder. Despite the team’s 4-13 record, the rookie proved he was every bit as good as advertised.
While the Raiders returned for voluntary workouts this spring, Bowers was back at school. The 22-year-old returned to the University of Georgia to finish his degree in finance.
Bowers signed a four-year, $18 million rookie deal last year—and now he’s setting himself up to manage it wisely.
“(Raiders) tight end Brock Bowers is in Georgia, finishing up his college degree, so he has not been at the facility for voluntary workouts (for good reason, of course),” Vincent Bonsignore reported.
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Bowers declared for the 2024 draft after his junior year, meaning he entered the league before completing his studies. Just as he’s shown an elite work ethic on the field, he’s now proving just as dedicated off of it.
His college coach, Kirby Smart, had long praised Bowers’ maturity and resilience. The tight end battled back from a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for three games in 2023, staying active in team meetings and rehabbing hard to return to the field. Smart called Bowers a “safe bet” ahead of the draft, and NFL teams didn’t need much convincing. They already knew what they were getting.
More Offensive Firepower for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025
The Raiders are wasting no time building around their new star.
This offseason, they acquired quarterback Geno Smith in a trade with the Seahawks, bringing in a veteran signal-caller familiar with coach Pete Carroll’s system.
Then, in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Las Vegas added another offensive weapon: Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State.
Jeanty wrapped up a historic college career with 47 rushing touchdowns, and now pairs with Bowers to give the Raiders a dynamic one-two punch. If Smith can settle in quickly, this offense could bring Las Vegas back to relevance in 2025 and beyond.