Peter King's 2011 NFL mock draft is out. He has the Detroit Lions picking Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, who is expected to drop to the 13th pick because of concerns about the health of his knees. Just months ago he was considered a top-five talent by many, but now it looks like the Lions could very well have the opportunity to draft him.
King's reasoning for the pick is this:
He's a medical risk, and playing on the rug isn't good for a guy who might need microfracture surgery on his right knee. But two people who've done exhaustive work on Bowers told me they think he's a solid mid-first gamble. Jim Schwartz knows if he gets a young edge rusher to pair with Ndamukong Suh, his defensive front will be competitive with the league's best. But watch for Castonzo or Colorado tackle Nate Solder here.
I picked Bowers for the Lions in the 2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft for this very reason. Despite the medical concerns, adding him to the Lions' already awesome D-line would give them a ridiculous amount of talent. It would be a gamble, but if Bowers could stay healthy it would be more than worth it.