The 2011 NFL Draft is taking place on Thursday, April 28, and the Redskins will have the No. 10 pick in the first round. Many different players have been projected to be picked in that spot in various 2011 NFL mock drafts, and the Redskins certainly have a lot of needs. Which players will be good fits for the Redskins in that spot? We will provide scouting reports and let you know who we like in this StoryStream. Next up: Clemson Defensive End Da'Quan Bowers.
NFL Comparison: Will Smith of the Saints would be a good comparison. Like Smith, Bowers has the potential to be a great "two way" player that can be stout against the run and on pass rushing downs.
2010 Season Stats: 67 tackles, 15.5 sacks and 25 tackles for losses
Strengths: Sometimes you have ends who are simply stout against the run. Other times you bring in an elite pass rushing specialists at the DE spot. But with Bowers, you have the potential to have both. He brings a rare blend of pass rush repertoire along with the ability to be a solid run defender. He has good size and bulk for his position (6-3, 280 lbs) with a good upper body fit to fend off would be blockers. He is explosive off the edge and could easily fit both a 4-3 or a 3-4 style defense. He also can play a mean guitar.
Weaknesses: If you look at his first two years at Clemson, then take a look at his junior year, it'll make scratch your head. Why? Because Bowers had 19.5 career sacks in college. The catch is, 15.5 of them were in his junior year. So what happened in his first two years? Was his junior year an aberration? Scouts wonder if this will be another player who was a "one year wonder" and simply flame out at the NFL level. It will be up to Bowers to maintain whatever focus he had in his junior year and carry it over to the next level and them some.
Redskins fit: The team is lacking at that defensive end spot. While Adam Carriker certainly improved over time, they don't have a true impact player along that front three, and this would be the ideal spot for Bowers to come in and contribute. The 3-4 defensive end requires someone who is a good two way player, someone you can provide occasional pass rush and be stout against the run. Bowers could be a a guy who could go above and beyond the call of duty at the 3-4 end spot if drafted by the Redskins.
Where He Should Be picked: Somewhere in the top 10. Is it possible he falls to the Redskins? Sure. As mentioned earlier, scouts wonder if this guy has at it takes to build on his junior season at Clemson. However, I wouldn't expect him to fall far out of the top ten if he does fall that far.