Under the current rules you get the RFA, or you can franchise tag a guy as well. Draft picks can be locked inot your organization for a long time useing those tools. 5 to 7 years is easy. The concern with Bowers, out side of the so-so workouts, is that he may last one contract, May need limited pratice time, May need mirco fracture surgey. Lots of what ifs hanging over the kids head. There is no doubt he has the tools to be a good 43 end. I would not risk him as a 34 OLB. He was far too stiff in the workouts according to all reports. The teams see a much clearer picture of the medical concerns then us average joe's get. People wrote off clayborn becasue of his Erbs palsey, but he still went in the first. I'm guessing bowers knee is in big trouble and its sad for the guy.
Different circumstance, but DeJuan Blair fell into the 2nd round last year despite being a round 1 talent for similar reasons. Having a nice career so far.
If they drafted Bowers, he would be replacing KVB on the strongside. Cliff Avril isn't getting benched...
Vanden Bosch isn't getting cut 1 year into a 4 year $26 million contract and Avril is an RFA, so I went with the guy who is guaranteed a roster spot. Either way, Bowers would be a pretty silly pick for the Lions. Obviously they want to sign Avril to a long term contract, and Bowers isn't the kind of guy you draft to sit on the bench for a couple of years. And Vanden Bosch is too expensive for that.
Even if they did, I didn't mean KVB would be cut, but rather he's the player they would be replacing eventually. Bower may have to "redshirt" his first year to fully recover, the less wear the better for a player like him. You get another year from KVB, and decide what you want to do with him based on his play after the season. If he dips more in production, cut him. Then you already have your starter at SDE waiting in the wings...
Got it. Yeah, KVB's not going anywhere in the next two seasons unless he aggravates his injury. Bowers would be tremendous value for ANYONE at that spot, but with other holes to fill, I'd say they've done a great job of building up that line for the time being. Someone else will benefit from the freefall.
