NFL 2011: Da'Quan Bowers and the 15 Biggest Rookie Wild Cards
The first round of the NFL draft always receives the most attention, but it's Rounds 2 through 7 where teams are built.
For every Peyton Manning (pick No. 1), there is a Tom Brady (pick No. 199). And for every Reggie Bush who is expected to become a franchise back, there's an underrated, late-round pick like Pierre Thomas who actually becomes the feature back.
The 2011 draft is no different.
While the first round featured many big names and much promise the later rounds were full of talented players just waiting to explode.
Here is a profile of 15 rookie wild cards who will make big things happen in 2011 and beyond.
15. Jerrell Powe, Nose Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
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Drafted in the sixth round with the now famous pick No. 199, Jerrell Powe may not be expected to do much in his rookie season.
But we expect quite a bit.
Powe was considered a 5-star recruit by Rivals.com coming out of high school and listed as the No. 3 defensive tackle in the nation.
Powe's college career at Ole Miss got off to a rocky start when it was found he had not completed the necessary 14 core courses in high school and therefore was denied freshman eligibility. Powe had to bounce around various high schools and military academies before the NCAA let him play.
Once on the field, Powe was good but never great, largely in part due to the poor situation surrounding his entrance to college.
Powe was consistently behind the eight-ball at Ole Miss but had established himself well by the end of the 2009 season.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs will line up Powe in the nose tackle position, where his 335-lb frame can eat up blockers and control the line of scrimmage.
14. Chykie Brown, Cornerback, Baltimore Ravens
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First-round pick Jimmy Smith will receive the preseason attention from the media and coaches in Baltimore, but it's fifth-round pick Chykie Brown who we have our eyes on.
The cornerback situation in Baltimore is not great, which means both rookies have a legitimate chance to start in their first season.
Brown was somewhat overlooked at Texas when rotating with Curtis Brown and Aaron Williams for playing time but has the ideal size/speed combination the Ravens need at right cornerback.
13. Owen Marecic, Fullback, Cleveland Browns
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Owen Marecic was a rare man in college football during the 2010 season.
After beginning his career entirely at fullback, where he blew open holes for Heisman runner-up Toby Gerheart, Marecic made a move to defense in 2010.
Only he kept playing offense too.
Marecic was, by our research, the only player in FBS football last season to start on both offense and defense.
He'll bring that versatility and toughness to the Browns locker room. Marecic's job in the NFL will be limited to starting at fullback and perhaps helping on special teams.
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12. Jurrell Casey, Defensive Tackle, Tennesee Titans
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As a third-round pick, it is reasonable to expect playing time from Jurrell Casey during his rookie season. More than just playing time, we expect Casey to start at defensive tackle in Tennessee.
Jason Jones is confidently penciled in at one starting position due to his pass rushing ability. The team needs a big body next to him to control the A and B gaps and draw a double-team.
That's where Jurrell Casey is at his best.
Before the draft, we believed Casey could become the best nose tackle in this class if drafted by a 3-4 defense. In a 4-3, he'll be able to show more of his athleticism in occasionally splitting double-teams and rushing the passer. His primary job will be freeing up Colin McCarthy to make tackles and allowing Jones to get off the line without being doubled.
11. Quinton Carter, Free Safety, Denver Broncos
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With the possible retirement of Brian Dawkins this summer—and the longer the lockout goes on the more likely that seems—Quinton Carter will be thrust into a role as the team's starting free or strong safety.
We know the Broncos used a second-round pick on Rahim Moore and we do think Moore will have the first chance to play free safety, but why did the Broncos use a fourth-round pick on Carter?
We've seen enough of Carter over the years to know that his versatility and tackling ability would allow him to play at free or strong safety in the pros.
At strong safety the Broncos have David Bruton, a solid youngster and 33-year-old Renaldo Hill. Carter could see time at strong safety and definitely in nickel packages.
10. Casey Matthews, Inside Linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
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The Philadelphia Eagles are potentially losing two middle linebackers from last year's team—Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither.
They have added their replacements in the form of Casey Matthews and Greg Lloyd.
Matthews, a fourth-round pick, will be plugging in from day one as the team's MIKE linebacker. Matthews is compared often to his brother Clay, but they are different players. Casey is more of an inside linebacker, as he doesn't have the raw speed of his All-Pro brother.
What the two do have in common is great vision and instincts.
With a very good defense around him Matthews could make a statement as a rookie.
9. Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
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The Green Bay Packers will lose wide receiver James Jones to free agency this season, which opens up a hole at wide receiver and kick returner.
Randall Cobb may have been a surprise pick in Round 2, as no one expected Green Bay to draft three straight offensive players, but he's a welcome addition at wide receiver.
Cobb, a mult-dimensional threat at Kentucky, will help at receiver, running back and return man.
While Green Bay is traditionally very strong on offense, they lack an electric playmaker like Cobb.
8. Ross Homan, Outside Linebacker, Minnesota Vikings
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Not many sixth-round picks have the talent to step on to a playoff contender and start as a rookie.
We think Ross Homan may be an exceptional to the rule.
Chad Greenway will be back at outside linebacker for Minnesota, but Ben Leber will not be. This creates a big opening at linebacker.
Minnesota is stocked at middle linebacker but have just Greenway, Homan, Heath Farwell and Kenny Onatolu on the roster today. Erin Henderson has shown some promise and should be back next year as he's a restricted free agent, but even Henderson does not have a lock on the starting job.
With their need to sign key free agents on their own team this year, it will limit the Vikings ability to sign a marquee free agent at the position.
The door is open for Homan. He just needs to kick it in.
7. Greg Little, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
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The Cleveland Browns offseason needs consisted of fixing their defense and adding a No. 1 wide receiver for young quarterback Colt McCoy.
The Browns first two draft picks were on the defensive line. The third pick was a wide receiver with the talent to become a star.
At 6'3" and 231 lbs Greg Little has crazy size and agility, plus the strength to beat a press coverage and the speed to run away from a defense.
Little, a converted running back, is raw but a good fit for the West Coast offense.
He will have every chance to star in Cleveland from the first day of practice.
6. Kenrick Ellis, Nose Tackle, New York Jets
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Replacing Kris Jenkins will not be easy in New York but the team trusts Kenrick Ellis to do just that.
At 6'5" and 345 lbs, Ellis is definitely big enough to take his place at nose tackle, but will his experience at small school Hampton allow an easy transition to the NFL?
Ellis is versatile enough to move back and forth between nose tackle and defensive end, much like B.J. Raji has done in Green Bay. From day one he will be asked to compete with Sione Pouha at nose tackle but could also line up at left defensive end opposite Muhammad Wilkerson.
No matter the position he's playing, we believe Ellis could have a huge impact.
5. Shane Vereen, Running Back, New England Patriots
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BenJarvus Green-Ellis and his 1,000 yards rushing are a free agent this summer. Danny Woodhead is a great change-of-pace guy but nothing more.
That's why Shane Vereen is so important in New England.
Tom Brady, in all his greatness, needs a running back who can take pressure off the passing game and orchestrate a believable play action.
Vereen has the build, vision, speed and hands to make a huge impact as a rookie.
4. Marvin Austin, Defensive Tackle, New York Giants
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What happens when a top-10 talent at defensive tackle falls to the second round? He becomes a freakin' steal.
Marvin Austin was set to become a high first-round pick before he had to miss the 2010 season after illegal contact with an agent. Instead he was labeled with character issues and saw his stock fall on draft day.
Austin will need tough love in the NFL, and that's what he'll get from coach Tom Coughlin. Coughlin's style of coaching will not allow for any BS from Austin or anyone else.
That type of coaching will push Austin to the limits and get the best results from the talented defensive tackle.
3. Bruce Carter, Inside Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
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A torn ACL late in the year is all that kept linebacker Bruce Carter from the top 15 picks of the NFL draft.
Carter, a stud outside linebacker at North Carolina, was one of the few Tar Heels who were not suspended in 2010. His character, play and leadership skills were on display with the lack of talent around him, and it stood out to NFL evaluators.
Carter will move to inside linebacker in the Dallas 3-4 defense. He'll be teamed with fellow youngster Sean Lee as the team prepares to replace veterans Keith Brooking and Bradie James down the road.
While Carter might be expected to contribute later rather than sooner, we think he has the talent to unseat Brooking as a rookie.
2. Marcus Cannon, Offensive Tackle, New England Patriots
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Before the 2011 NFL draft, most considered an early second-round pick in the draft. That all changed at the NFL Scouting Combine when routine tests showed an irregularity that led to a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Cannon is currently undergoing treatment and should be ready by the time the season starts.
Cannon slid to the fifth round of the draft largely in part, if not wholly, because of the diagnosis.
The Patriots were there to stop his free fall.
Cannon will most likely slide inside to guard for the Patriots who are set at tackle with Sebastian Vollmer and Nate Solder. At guard Cannon will have a chance to replace right guard Stephen Neal as a rookie.
New England has never been afraid to play rookies under Bill Belichick, and Cannon will become another in a line of rookie starters in New England.
1. Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Tampa Bay
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After the 2010 NFL draft we pegged Da'Quan Bowers as a potential top-10 pick if he decided to enter the 2011 NFL draft—which he did.
The only problem was that by that time Bowers had suffered a knee injury that led to complicated offseason surgery and fears that his knee may be degenerative and/or arthritic.
Those fears led to Bowers being drafted 50 spots lower than early projections—falling all the way to pick No. 51 overall.
Bowers, if healthy, has amazing talent. He will also be playing on a young and aggressive defensive line that will prevent offensive lines from focusing on him alone.
The big key here is the unknown. Bowers' health is a huge, huge question mark.
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