I think he's a first rounder. He's probably the third corner behind Peterson and Amukamara. Miami corners DeMarcus Van Dyke and Brandon Harris did extremely well today. I wouldn't be surprised if Harris went ahead of Smith. Texas' Aaron Williams might be viewed as a safety now.
Peterson could fall to 5 because of what other teams need. That might be enough for Dallas to trade up. AJ Green isn't getting past the Bengals. They'd be dumb if he did.
Why are you projecting Carolina to take Bowers? Because he played nearby at Clemson? I'll be surprised if they do. I've seen no one down here projecting that. The Panthers have some good young DEs, but not DTs. Neither Fairley nor Dareus may be Suh, but they don't have to be. Both are strong, pretty fast, penetrating players who can collapse the pocket and get pressure on QBs, as well as stuff the run. Those types are worth their weight in gold. They could just as easily take AJ Green (they need targets for whomever their QB will be), and as Mr. E suggests, they could even take Cam Newton if they aren't sold on Clausen.
All I can say is a line that has both Charles Johnson and Bowers would become one of the scariest lines for years to come, Bowers is great, his stocked dropped off a bit but he should make up for that in his pro-day. I like Fairley but just hate picking a one year wonder at #1. This drafted is filled with solid 4-3 DTs and I think they can draft one later on that maybe not be as effective but can certainly make some noise. IMO they should take either 3 players, Bowers, Newton, or Dareus. Newton will help with the attendance and also become a solid pro in the NFL, Although for a team like Carolina to be legit again I think they cant just throw him in the fire but instead groom him and let him learn the playbook inside and out. Bowers will become there next Peppers with added line help ( maybe not as great but very similar, needs to figure out that Knee problem though). And Dareus reminds me of a meaner Gerald McCoy, a line collapser that helps out the ends and stops the run. They can go alot of ways but that IMO is there best chance at not making a mistake.
You say no to Fairley because you can't justify taking a one year wonder at #1, but you offer up Bowers and Cam as legitimate options?
By his original statement, doesn't his choice for carolina become limited to A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson? I mean Green and Peterson have been excelling for a few years, the others literally came out of no where this year as exceptionally dominant players.
At least Bowers had legitimate play time while at Clemson while Fairley went from 28 tackles to 56 ( although 12 sacks is superb). Bowers had a climb in tackles, 37 to 46 to 67 with his sack numbers also improving obviously he made that big jump his last year. Dareus has consistent years on a high powered D so he has solid experience as well. Cam Newton is for sure a one year wonder kind of kid, but what I was saying is he becomes an option for them at #1 because of his Hype, Skill set, and he'll have the whole country talking Panthers. Which is what they would like. That was my reasoning.
So, if you're defending Bowers, despite only having one big season, and Cam, despite only having one actual season, what you're saying is that the #1 pick CAN be a one year wonder? So then Nick Fairley is a legitimate option? So then we should also take into account the massive gaping hole they have on the interior of their defense? And also the fact that if Rivera was to switch over to his beloved 34 at some point Fairley would be far and away the best fit?
In no way shape or form is Fairley NOT a #1 pick canidate, Im not debting that, I just dont see a 4-3 DT as a legitimate option unless its a guy like Suh. Dareus is great again I also dont justify him as being a #1 pick. I think they can get a interior lineman later on in the draft since its a heavy dlineman draft. I guess you can kill me on that sentence for one year wonder, but I felt as though Bower had better experience and play time compared to Fairley. That was my justification. I picked Cam because he can change the face of that organization, they need more pieces obviously but he's a hell of a prospect for them. One other thing. You talk about the possible switch to a 3-4? You dont think Bowers could possibly play as a weak side OLB? Im not stating it as an arguement just a question as to if he has the cover skills and how was he standing in certain schemes in college. Also saw him weight in at the combine at 280 thought he was going to be around 270, a little surprised at that.
