Defensive End

Clemson

6-3 277

Draft Board Overall Prospect Rank: #54

Draft Board Overall Defensive End Rank: #11

Rating: 77 (mid 2nd round)

40 time: 4.95

4/17/11: Bowers’ stock is dropping like a lead balloon. His medical recheck with the NFL did not go well. His knee has been described as “arthritic” and will probably need surgery some day and could significantly reduce the length of his career. This is not a guy you take a risk on in the 1st round, especially after only one good year of production. He could easily drop out of the first round. Some teams might just have a “do not draft” label on him. 

4/17/11: Once a potential #1 pick, Bowers’ stock is now slipping like a rock. He says his knee is 100%, yet he ran a 4.95 at 6-3 276. He hobbled around in drills and looked terrible on the field. The injury concerns, combined with his “one year wonder” label, make him someone who would scare NFL scouts to death when it comes to using a top 10 pick on him, and I don’t blame them. He could fall to Minnesota at 12 or Detroit at 13 now. 

2/20/11: Time travel with me for a second. It’s 2006. The debate for the #1 pick is between Vince Young and Reggie Bush and all of a sudden, the Texans shock the world and announce that they’re going with an athletic (6-7 295 4.65) defensive end from a school in Carolina, Mario Williams out of NC State. Now back to 2011, the debate for the #1 pick seems to be between Nick Fairley and AJ Green. However, with the Combine coming in a few days, we could see a similar performance to Williams’ from Da’Quan Bowers and that could propel him to become the #1 pick.

Bowers was the #1 high school prospect in 2008, after Julio Jones, thanks to his 4.6 40 time at 6-4 280. That’s not quite Mario Williams’’ 6-7 295 4.65, but it’s pretty damn close. Bowers struggled in his first 2 years, but burst onto the scene with 16 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback pressures as a junior this year.

The one year wonder label could easily be slapped on him and he did produce a lot of bad tape before this season. However, he was so dominant this year and I think it’s possible that the light really just did turn on for him. His dad died right before the season started and he frequently mentions that as the reason for his strong play this season. He was playing inspired football and I think it’s very possible he plays inspired football for his entire NFL career.

His upside is off the charts. He has that type of athleticism combined with production in college that you only see every 5 or so years. Williams had the 4.65 at 6-7 295 in 2006, with 14 sacks as a junior. Julius Peppers in 2002 with a 4.68 at 6-7 292. Peppers was 2nd North Carolina’s history with 30.5 sacks, in just 3 years. He, of course, went #2 overall in 2002 and has had an amazing NFL career that could land him in the Hall of Fame if he keeps it up.

A lot of people like to hate on Bowers because of the measurable. They say that makes him a high bust type player. They like to remember Derrick Harvey, Jamaal Anderson, Vernon Gholston, and Gaines Adams and not guys like Williams and Peppers and even Dwight Freeney (6-2 270 4.48). I think Bowers fits better with the latter.

I’m not saying Bowers will definitely be the #1 pick, in fact, my money’s still on Green, but he definitely could be a possibility after The Combine. I doubt he falls out of the top 4. The Bengals will love putting him next to another freak athlete, Carlos Dunlap, to help shore up their pass rush.

I don’t think he’ll go #3 to the Bills. I don’t think he’s a 3-4 end. That just doesn’t utilize his pass rushing skills well enough, part of the reason why I don’t like the Texans are moving to a 3-4 and putting Super Mario at 3-4 end. However, the Panthers and Broncos (coached by John Fox who drafted Peppers 2nd overall with his first pick after he became the Panthers coach in 2002) will definitely take a good look at him.

NFL Comparison: Courtney Brown