NFL Draft 2011: Da'Quan Bowers and the Biggest Disappointments This Offseason
It happens every year. Prospects see their draft stock free fall for one reason or another and suddenly a once-promising player is viewed as a red flag, avoided like the plague and loses millions of dollars with each passing team.
This year, Da'Quan Bowers has been among the leaders of this group, if you choose to call them such.
Just a couple months ago draft experts were debating whether or not Bowers should be selected with the top overall pick. Now? Those same experts debate just how far down the first round the All-American defensive end will slide.
Here's a look at Bowers' company amongst the most disappointing draft prospects this offseason.
7. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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Clayborn came into the 2010 season regarded as one of the top defensive players in the country, but after recording 11 sacks as a junior he registered just four throughout his senior season and clearly wasn't the same player.
A sufferer of Erb's Palsy, a condition that affects his right shoulder and right arm, Clayborn only worsened doubts over his health with a poor showing at Iowa's pro day, which may have bounced him out of the first round entirely.
6. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
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There might not be a single player in the country whose talent is canceled out by his character as much as Jimmy Smith's is.
The ultra-talented defender has the makings of a shutdown cornerback and was considered a lock to be drafted in the first round just a few short months ago.
Now, Smith is reportedly dropping off several teams' draft boards entirely. Concerns over his character, poor interviews and skipped workouts have turned this once-promising prospect into poison.
5. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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Mark Ingram's once-stellar stock is starting to show signs of weakness. Partially due to rumors about the condition of his knees, partially due to his slow 40 time, Ingram is in danger of dropping out of the first round all together.
Several mock drafts still have Ingram falling to Miami at No. 15, but even with a note from renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews stating the clean bill of health for the Heisman Trophy winner's knees, it's suspected if the Dolphins pass Ingram could free fall much in the same way Aaron Rogers did back in 2005.
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4. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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Jake Locker should serve as a warning for future quarterbacks. If you're projected as a top-10 pick after your junior year you better seriously consider bypassing the rest of your college career and heading for the pros early. Otherwise you might be the next Jake Locker.
Even after a disappointing senior season Locker still had a chance to salvage his situation though. But he struggled at the combine and at Washington's pro day and now there's a very good chance he's played his way right out of the first round and possibly beyond.
3. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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Once considered to be a potential option with the top overall pick in the draft, Nick Fairley has been put under the microscope like no one else.
From a prospect scouts were drooling over, Fairley now is scrutinized to a nearly unprecedented degree?
Why? Because serious issues over his conditioning, ability to understand the complexities of an NFL defense, poor hand technique in drills and lastly a label as a "soft" player.
2. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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Da'Quan Bowers is probably the unluckiest prospect in the 2011 NFL draft. Talented enough to legitimately warrant selection with the first overall pick, Bowers is sliding out of the top 10 in most mock drafts due to serious injury concerns.
There are reports that Bowers' surgically repaired knee has a lot of teams nervous. So much so that a few teams are believed to have removed Bowers from their draft boards all together.
From possibly the No. 1 pick, it wouldn't be surprising if Bowers were to drop all the way to the bottom third of the first round. And only time will tell if there was good reason for it or not.
1. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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Ryan Mallett was considered to be in three-way competition with Andrew Luck and Jake Locker to be the top overall pick back in September, but how things change in the world of football.
Character concerns, alleged drug use, poor interviews and rumors about Mallett's lack of leadership skills have many experts thinking he's not even worthy of being a second-round pick.
Sure, guys like Da'Quan Bowers and Nick Fairley have seen their stocks drop rapidly, but there's legitimate concern Mallett might slip all the way to Round 3 for reasons his camp have described as "bogus."
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