By any measure, Brock Bowers is having a truly historic season. Only four rookies have ever had 100 catches or more in a season. And he topped them all.
The first rookie to ever surpass the 100-catch mark was Anquan Boldin baxk in 2003. He had 101 catches that season. Bowers hit that number in 15 games.
Then it was Jaylen Waddle who, in 2021 set the record at 104 catches. It was broken last season by Puka Nacua, but it took Nacua 17 games to do it. He too had 101 after 16 games.
Bowers has 108 catches in 16 games. A tremendous feat by any measure. It also means taking the Raiders franchise record from Darren Waller is also legit.
That’s to say nothing of him breaking the rookie tight end yards mark that stood for 63 years. Mainly because the other records are tops regardless of positions.
Unfortunately for Bowers, his position is going to be the thing that turns all these records into no additions to his trophy case.
Washington QB Jayden Daniels is so far and away the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, BetMGM doesn’t even list it among their odds. And those who do list them still, Bowers is second, but the lines are so sizable, you’d obviously be throwing your money away even placing a bet.
Make no mistake, Daniels is deserving. He’s had a tremendous season, throwing for 3530 yards and rushing for 864 more with 31 combined touchdowns (six rushing) and just nine interceptions. The rushing yards total is a rookie QB record. Breaking the mark set by Robert Griffin III who also won ORoY in 2012.
No matter how many people tout Bowers as their choice for Rookie of the Year, they do so knowing he will go unrecognized among the rookie awards.
Yeah, he’ll be a Pro Bowler. And he may even be an All Pro. He does, after all, lead all NFL tight ends in catches (108) and receiving yards (1144).
The only tight end who might have a case for being selected All Pro over Bowers would be Georgie Kittle who is 65 yards behind him and has four more touchdowns.
And should Bowers land a spot on that team, it would be a big accomplishment and undoubtedly a great honor. But those are not individual awards.
Unlike college, where they have position specific awards — Bowers is the only two-time Mackey Award winner in history — the NFL has only offensive and defensive awards. And the OROY Award ALWAYS goes to either a quarterback, running back, or wide receiver. It has NEVER gone to a tight end.
If there were ever a year for that to change, it would be after the season Bowers is having. But it won’t.
So, enjoy the congrats from your teammates and those balls for the rookie and franchise records you broke this past week, Brock. They are the closest thing to a trophy you’ll receive to recognize your historic season.