Las Vegas Raiders take Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th pick in the NFL draft

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) – Brock Bowers was in high school in Napa, California, when the then-Oakland Raiders held training camp nearby.

He stopped by to watch the practice and even got an autograph from quarterback Derek Carr.

Now Bowers is part of the Las Vegas Raiders, who selected the Georgia tight end with the 13th pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday.

“It’s come full circle,” Bowers said from Napa.

This is the second straight year the Raiders have signed a tight end. Las Vegas moved up last year, taking Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer in the second round with the 35th overall pick. Mayer caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Bowers was the first player to win the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end in consecutive seasons, after recording 56 receptions for 714 yards and six touchdowns.

He said he has had limited contact with the Raiders, mostly at the NFL scouting office in Indianapolis and “a little bit on the phone,” so Las Vegas was not among his expected destinations.

“I was really shocked,” Bowers said. “I wasn’t sure what happened. When the call came and said Las Vegas, I was impressed.”

Georgia used Bowers all over the field and even lined him up in the backfield or in the slot.

“I think it’s fun to move all over the field,” Bowers said. “I hope it stays that way, but whatever they ask of me, I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”

Who will throw the Bowers passes remains to be seen. Aidan O’Connell is the incumbent starter, but the Raiders signed Gardner Minshew this offseason. Their hopes for a franchise quarterback were likely dashed when six QBs were selected from the first twelve picks.

This is Las Vegas’ first draft under coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, who are trying to turn around a team that went 8-9 last season. Pierce took over as interim coach in the second half of the season after coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were fired and the Raiders went 5-4 under his watch.

After being rewarded with the full-time job, Pierce made no secret of his desire for a long-term answer at quarterback. The Raiders could grab a QB later in the draft, such as South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler or Tulane’s Michael Pratt.

The Raiders also need to make some moves in other areas, such as the right side of the offensive line, defensive tackle and cornerback.