NFL Draft 2011: Da'Quan Bowers Worth the Risk at 51st Pick for Tampa Bay

Once upon a time in a draft-land far, far away, Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers was supposed to be a top five pick.

Not a 51st pick. A TOP FIVE PICK.

Some ground-up knee cartilage and some bone-on-bone later, the studly Clemson defensive end, a prototype speed, edge, sack-the-quarterback rusher fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 51st pick of the second round on what must have been a really testy Friday night for Bowers.

The guy fell quicker than a 1980s tech stock.

He watched 50 guys get drafted in front of him and he, no doubt, had to be the poster-guy for depression.

He wasn't even the first Clemson defensive lineman selected.

But like Mike Mayock and the rest of the draft gurus said over and over, at some point, the talent had to be worth the risk.

The Bucs were willing to take that risk.

The Bucs are a sanctuary for bad knees. Just ask them about Kellen Winslow. He's worked out pretty good for the oncoming Buccaneers and there's probably no reason why Bowers can't end up one day as the steal of this draft.

Is Bowers the next Mike Williams?

Only time and game situations will tell.

But in the meantime, the agony ended for the Clemson Tiger.

He has gone on the record as saying the reports about his knee are bunk. But what would you expect him to say?

The great thing about this pick, the great thing about Bowers is you know the guy is going to play with a chip on his shoulder. He's got the opportunity to show 31 teams that they totally missed the boat.

Hopefully he'll do just that.