There are five can't-miss players in the Draft. Fowler Jr. is one of them. - CBS

[WDCGator]

Link: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/write...-five-cant-miss-players-in-the-2015-nfl-draft

2. Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, Florida: I really like this kid. Randy Gregory to me is the best pass rusher in this draft, but he's got the red flags, too. This is the second-best player in this draft. I think he's a double-digit sack guy, he's on the field for you every down. I don't worry about his weight the way I do with some of these other kids, who put on all this fake water weight but you know they can't play that way. He's not a one-year wonder like (Clemson's Vic) Beasley. This kid has the body. I know Pittsburgh has to be dying over this kid. They can't get him (Pittsburgh isn't picking until 22nd overall), but when I see him play I see Joey Porter. He gets in the right scheme -- I see him in a 3-4) and he is going to produce.

 

[NavetG8r]

Yeah, I expect Fowler is going to have a fine NFL career. Great player and a great Gator!

 

[NVGator]

Hoping he's there at #3 and the Jags don't screw the pooch.

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

He'll be a good one. Couldn't help but notice the absence of a clown quarterback on that list.

 

[WDCGator]

He'll be a good one. Couldn't help but notice the absence of a clown quarterback on that list.

Please do not turn this into a Winston thread. You're more than welcome to talk about him on Warchant, LOL.

 

[GatorBart]

Hoping he's there at #3 and the Jags don't screw the pooch.

Living in Gainesville for 10 years (87-97) I've always wanted to root for the Jags, but after Coughlin's stint and a hint of success early under him, they have done nothing to garner my interest. I just don't care about the Jags - maybe if Fowler gets picked by them I'll start to care a little more.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Well not to be a downer but if 1 and 2 go rapies, mariotta, I'd be picking williams at #3. Dude is a beast and imo should be the top pick.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Please do not turn this into a Rapeis thread.

I know it's bothersome to you, but the good news is that Rapeis is first on the can-miss, moob-having, fatazz list.

I'm not sure about Williams either. Don't get me wrong, he's one of our biggest misses in the last few years and wish he had been a Gator. However, he doesn't seem to have that top end motor and plays a little slow to me. So, he's not quite big and strong enough to play inside but isn't really fast enough IMO to be an NFL end. Maybe a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 end. He just doesn't seem to have that elite first step or power. I don't see him as can't miss at all, though I expect him to hang around for a while even if he isn't dominant.

 

[NVGator]

Living in Gainesville for 10 years (87-97) I've always wanted to root for the Jags, but after Coughlin's stint and a hint of success early under him, they have done nothing to garner my interest. I just don't care about the Jags - maybe if Fowler gets picked by them I'll start to care a little more.

I just keep hoping and hoping. Loved kicking Denver's azz at their place in that game. Was living in NYC at the time with my wife (girlfriend) and she's from Denver. We've a fun barb with each other every year.

 

[alcoholica]

Well not to be a downer but if 1 and 2 go rapies, mariotta, I'd be picking williams at #3. Dude is a beast and imo should be the top pick.

He's dropped recently. I think it's due to lack of motor and taking plays off

 

[WobbleGator]

No surprise that Cooper and Fowler made the list.

 

[GatorJ]

I like Gruden's Top 10 list better. His little blurb on Fowler is awesome.

https://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/ins...2015-nfl-draft Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida

Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire



In this draft I just don't see anyone who has the playing style of Fowler. I love people who physically intimidate you, and Fowler brings a presence to the field. You don't want to play against him. If you are a quarterback or running back, you know where he is, I promise you that. Even guards had better watch out for him. The second series of the bowl game against East Carolina was a perfect example. The left guard pulls and it's just unbelievable. Fowler drops him. You just don't see that from many edge defenders.
I do not dislike anything about him. He has the football savvy and football aptitude to move around the defense. Sometimes it looks like a freelancing freak show, but it'll be worth the price of admission. I see his passion for the game, while with some of these others I do not feel the same. Fowler is one of those players where I say, "Dante, we are going to play for nothing, and we are going to play a doubleheader" and he would be there because he loves to play. That is what I feel when I watch him play.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

strong praise, even from gruden.

 

[NavetG8r]

That's a glowing report for sure. He does seem to have that "it" factor.

 

[WobbleGator]

Fowler and Easily always seemed to enjoy playing the game of football and it is a joy to watch them play.

 

[GatorJ]

I'm no Falcons fan but I'd love to see him with Dan Quinn.

 

[WDCGator]

I like Gruden's Top 10 list better. His little blurb on Fowler is awesome.

https://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/ins...2015-nfl-draft Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida

Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire



In this draft I just don't see anyone who has the playing style of Fowler. I love people who physically intimidate you, and Fowler brings a presence to the field. You don't want to play against him. If you are a quarterback or running back, you know where he is, I promise you that. Even guards had better watch out for him. The second series of the bowl game against East Carolina was a perfect example. The left guard pulls and it's just unbelievable. Fowler drops him. You just don't see that from many edge defenders.
I do not dislike anything about him. He has the football savvy and football aptitude to move around the defense. Sometimes it looks like a freelancing freak show, but it'll be worth the price of admission. I see his passion for the game, while with some of these others I do not feel the same. Fowler is one of those players where I say, "Dante, we are going to play for nothing, and we are going to play a doubleheader" and he would be there because he loves to play. That is what I feel when I watch him play.

Good list, but I don't know about taking Mariota with the first pick. He's one heck of a college QB, but these spread-offense QBs rarely transition well to the next level. I don't know why some of these experts continue to pick these guys, but it happens every single year, and they all end with the same results. They're at a severe disadvantage. If I'm a GM who is looking for my QB, I'm looking at a guy like Mannion, Carden or Halliday. I think Winston is the most pro-ready due to his ability to run that pro-style system well at FSU, but I wouldn't touch him as I worry about his emotional maturity. You can take a risk on a guy like that if he's a RB, WR or DB, but your QB is the CEO of your company, and you want him to be a high-character person. He screwed himself out of millions and a shot at the first pick.

 

[PatDooleySucks]

Hoping he's there at #3 and the Jags don't screw the pooch.

Jags have been targeting Fowler for awhile. It's either Fowler or Cooper. They aren't interested in any DBs, OL, RB, QBs, LBs, TE that high. The pick is either WR or DL. They don't have as much need for DT right now. Fowler could be the cog that really makes the defense pop, and he has a motor. They were targeting him before all these other players got arrests and it became "fashionable" to pick him that high

 

[GatorJ]

Good list, but I don't know about taking Mariota with the first pick. He's one heck of a college QB, but these spread-offense QBs rarely transition well to the next level. I don't know why some of these experts continue to pick these guys, but it happens every single year, and they all end with the same results. They're at a severe disadvantage. If I'm a GM who is looking for my QB, I'm looking at a guy like Mannion, Carden or Halliday. I think Winston is the most pro-ready due to his ability to run that pro-style system well at FSU, but I wouldn't touch him as I worry about his emotional maturity. You can take a risk on a guy like that if he's a RB, WR or DB, but your QB is the CEO of your company, and you want him to be a high-character person. He screwed himself out of millions and a shot at the first pick.

I agree with everything you said. Another thing that I would be worried about with Winston (aside from the off field decision-making) Is his on field decision-making when under pressure. He threw a lot of picks this year. And that was in the weak A-She-She.

I think if he's in the right system, Fowler can become a perennial pro bowler. The jags haven't hit on a wide receiver since probably Jimmy Smith. Blackmon is really good but he's a PR mess.

 

[WobbleGator]

I think if he's in the right system, Fowler can become a perennial pro bowler. The jags haven't hit on a wide receiver since probably Jimmy Smith. Blackmon is really good but he's a PR mess.

When was the last the Jags hit on a DE? I still believe they will take Cooper over Fowler but I believe they could do no wrong picking either one.