NFL Draft 2011 Grades: Tampa Bay Bucs Round 2 and Round 3 Analysis

After selecting defensive end Adrian Clayborn in the first round of yesterday's 2011 NFL Draft, I said I wouldn't be surprised if Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik found another defensive end before the weekend was over.

Well, it didn't take for that prediction to come true.

Not only did Dominik select another defensive end, but he did so with highly touted draft prospect Da'Quan Bowers as the team's second-round pick.

You know the story. Bowers figured to be a top-five selection in this year's draft class, maybe even the top pick, until a January knee surgery revealed problems most NFL teams didn't want to deal with—more knee surgery. And with an eight month recovery process predicted, he was widely considered too much of a risk.

The Bucs rolled the dice with the 19th pick in the second round and if Bowers' health holds up, this will easily be the steal of this draft.

Bowers was somewhat of a "one-year wonder" at Clemson in 2010, but what a year it was. He was an absolute terror, leading the nation with 16 sacks and displaying all the necessary skills to translate into an elite defensive end in the NFL.

Only time will tell what Bowers can do for the Bucs. Every NFL draft choice comes with a certain amount of risk. And maybe Bowers carries more risk than the norm.

But the potential reward is too great to ignore. It will be interesting to see how his career in Tampa develops.

In the third round, the Bucs went with inside linebacker Mason Foster, a big, athletic, instinctive player who should also provide special teams help.

The Bucs certainly get high marks for acquiring top-five talent in the middle of the second round with Bowers. And with the addition of Foster, it solidifies a very good second day.