Did Dante Fowler Jr. Cement Himself as a Top-3 Pick at Florida's Pro Day?

Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. is the best player in this year's NFL draft and expects to be drafted among the first three picks later this month. 

Just ask him. 

Sam Kouvaris of SamSportsLine.com did exactly that Tuesday after Florida's pro day:

Unfortunately for Fowler, his hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers own the No. 1 overall pick, and a quarterback appears to be the object of the organization's desire.

It's not guaranteed that Fowler will even be the first defensive player selected. Although, it would come as a surprise to the former Gator if his name isn't called once the Jacksonville Jaguars were on the clock with the third overall selection.

“I’d be stunned just because of the scheme that coach Gus (Bradley) has,” Fowler told The Palm Beach Post's Graham Hall. “I’m just happy that I’m getting drafted on the first day, though.”

In fact, Fowler feels he's an ideal fit for the Jaguars' defensive system, according to Kourvaris: 

Fowler will have competition, though, as the prospect who best fits into Jacksonville's scheme.

Clemson's Vic Beasley warrants discussion as the Jaguars' potential pick. Beasley will be in Jacksonville Tuesday to visit the organization, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport's colleague, Albert Breer, reported Fowler was expected to leave Florida's pro day and travel to Jacksonville for the franchise's massive prospect gathering. 

There is even the possibility that the versatile Florida defensive end won't be on the board once the Jaguars are on the clock because the Tennessee Titans are interested in his services with the second overall selection. Fowler will leave Jacksonville and then head to Nashville for a visit Thursday, per Breer. 

Beasley and Fowler are the last men standing as the top two options to become the first edge-rusher off the board after Shane Ray didn't test as well as expected at Missouri's pro day and Nebraska's Randy Gregory failed a drug test at the combine.

The Clemson product absolutely crushed his NFL combine experience, which placed him into the conversation and answered all the previous questions about him as a prospect. 

Even after a standout combine performance, questions still lingered about Fowler's overall game and abilities as a pure pass-rusher. 

A string of tweets from NFL.com's Bucky Brooks encapsulated the type of player Fowler is and why he may never reach elite status as a NFL pass-rusher: 

Florida's coaching staff didn't ask its defensive leader to beat opposing offensive tackles off the edge and bear down on the quarterback. Instead, the coaches manufactured ways for Fowler to create pressure.

Now, what exactly constitutes an elite NFL pass-rusher?

The minimum threshold resides somewhere around 10 sacks per year. But that stat is merely a starting point since 18 defensive linemen and outside linebackers reached or surpassed that benchmark last season. 

Consistent pressure opponents must game-plan for is the key. 

As a 260-pound edge-rusher, Fowler isn't going to be able to win with strength consistently against NFL offensive linemen. The 20-year-old prospect hasn't fully matured, but he's never going to become the near-300-pound marvel that J.J. Watt is. 

Thus, it's important for smaller pass-rushers to display an explosive first step, flexibility and an ability to beat offense tackles around the edge on their way to the quarterback. 

This is an area in which Fowler simply doesn't appear natural. 

The St. Petersburg, Florida, native registered 8.5 sacks during his final year in Gainesville (14.5 total during his three seasons on campus). Three of those sacks came in a career performance against East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl.

It was an impressive effort, but how he obtained those sacks requires context. 

Each sack is shown below to display how Fowler obtained all three. 

First, the Florida pass-rusher showed an impressive ability to convert speed to power: 

Credit: NFLDraftBreakdown.com

Fowler was in the offensive tackle's chest before the lineman could deliver a blow. The defender rocked the blocker and easily got underneath his pads and inside his post leg on his way to the quarterback. 

The second sack falls under the category of a "coverage sack": 

Credit: NFLDraftBreakdown.com

Fowler was easily blocked at the snap, and he dropped into space as a result. ECU quarterback Shane Carden didn't have anywhere to throw after rolling to his right. 

The Florida defender recognized an opportunity and shot through a pair of blockers to chase down the quarterback from behind. 

Finally, Florida's scheme allowed Fowler to take advantage of ECU's left tackle: 

Credit: NFLDraftBreakdown.com.

At the snap, Fowler didn't rush the passer. The Pirates left tackle then looked inside for the first immediate threat. 

After a second or two, Fowler burst through the hole left open by the blindside protector after he overset and left a massive void in the B-gap. 

Three sacks in his final game as a collegian allowed to Fowler to set single-game and career highs. 

But there wasn't one instance during the entire bowl game when Fowler dipped his shoulder, used his quickness to beat the offensive tackle to the edge and bore down on the quarterback.

It's only one example, yet it was Fowler's most productive game.  

Even at Florida's pro day, the pass-rusher didn't display great bend off the edge during position drills, courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times' Greg Auman: 

However, the bowl game provided an example of how teams can use him at the next level.  

Fowler's overall value lies in his versatility. He played numerous positions and lined up all over the field during his career. 

After an outstanding overall workout in Indianapolis at the combine, Fowler said during Tuesday's telecast that it was this area of his game he wanted to highlight at Florida's pro day: 

"

I came out here and I wanted to show that I am fluid and smooth at what I do. I have smooth hips. I just wanted to show I could move around in space. I came in around 265 today. I wanted to show I'm that true hybrid outside linebacker, because I know there are some linebacker that just come off the edge. I wanted to show them I can do it from a three- or two-point (stance).

"

There were certainly times in Gainesville that Fowler appeared a little stiff or even lackadaisical when he dropped into coverage. 

Tightness in his hips wasn't as apparent when Fowler participated in linebacker drills Tuesday.

Jacksonville.com's Richard Johnson provided an example of the future first-round pick dropping into space: 

"

Dante Fowler flippin them hips https://t.co/Q1nFk0quwI

— Richard Johnson (@RagjUF) April 7, 2015"

With the pro day over, Fowler may have gotten it right when he made his comment regarding the Jaguars. 

Scheme fit is essential for all prospects. It may be the single most important factor in a player's success at the professional level. Fowler will be challenged along the way, but he is a legitimate option for Jacksonville and the Atlanta Falcons, who own the eighth overall pick and are also searching for a "Leo" in Dan Quinn's defensive scheme. 

Fowler also presents the type of attitude and work ethic to make him successful at the next level. 

“I wanna be one of the great ones when it’s all said and done,” Fowler told Hall. “I feel like I still have a big chip on my shoulder, and I have a lot of things to prove. I’m still working until I’m able to be one of the great ones.”

In the end, questions remain about Fowler's overall skill set that prevent him from fully cementing his status as a top-three prospect. But he showed more than enough ability for those teams outside of the top 10 to forget about the possibility of drafting the early entrant. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @brentsobleski.