Las Vegas Raiders rookie TE Brock Bowers is still catching the eye of Sean Payton

During the NFL draft in April, the Denver BroncosThe overwhelming quarterback need dictated how they would use their 12th overall pick. However, that doesn't mean Broncos head coach Sean Payton wasn't a frustrated buyer.

Payton's interest in Brock Bowers dates back to before the draft, when the Las Vegas Raiders chose the Georgia tight end immediately after the Broncos took Bo Nix 12th overall. With the Raiders on the schedule for the Broncos this week, Payton will take a close look at what he did to secure a future franchise quarterback.

“We like him a lot. The year I stopped coaching, I went to Georgia,” Payton said Wednesday. “I gave a few lectures and went to training. He was an underclassman…He's one of those wild card tight ends that can move in space. You can see and feel his football IQ when you watch him play. He did.'' I remember there weren't many players in the (NFL Draft) Combine interview that could give you a headache.

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So far, Bowers has made a big name for himself with the Raiders. He's just four games into his rookie season, but Bowers looks like the big pass-catching tight end Denver has traditionally struggled to defend.

While Bowers continues to showcase his skills at an elite level, the Broncos are still looking for an answer at tight end, and the team is still searching for Payton's ever-elusive “wild card” player. Greg Dulcich swam upriver this season. He had several drops and made no progress as a blocker.

It's hurting the Broncos' offense, and Dulcich's failure has many wondering whether Payton's search for someone to work center field could be addressed before the NFL trade deadline on November 5th. Atlanta Falcons Tight end Kyle Pitts is a name being mentioned in the rumor mill. A change of scenery could benefit Pitts if a suitor could be found.

On paper, Pitts offers that enticing “wild card” mix of speed and size that would certainly interest Payton and Denver GM George Paton, like Bowers. However, some are already calling Pitts a bust in Atlanta, and he hasn't had more than three catches in any of the Falcons' four games this season.

Whether the Broncos are buyers at the trade deadline depends on how many wins the team can rack up by the end of October. With that in mind, getting a win over Bowers and the Raiders in Week 5 would be crucial, especially given their eight-game winning streak against the Broncos.

“Look, it’s a divisional opponent,” Payton said. “It’s our first chance to play a division opponent (this year). Last year we finished 3-3 in the division. I can't think of a team that accomplished anything worthwhile in your division while hitting .500…That's it. “Our job is to play our best football this Sunday and get ready for the game.”

With that in mind, and with Davante Adams out for Las Vegas, perhaps Patrick Surtain II will face Bowers. The prospect of such a matchup was met with a standard response from the Broncos' elite cover corner.

“Wherever they need me. That’s my role,” Surtain told reporters.

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