Da'Quan Bowers? A guy with a career ending injury pre-NFL Draft--That's Lions Logic for ya...

Da'Quan Bowers celebrating his expected millions.

The latest fad in NFL Mock drafting is to hand Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers to the Lions at the #13 pick.  I am not surprised at this development, nor would I be surprised if Commisioner Goodell made that announcement on  Thursday night.

Why?  Because it would be a great pick for the Leo's?  Of course not.  I think that this is simply very forward thinking on the part of the Lions.  Why not draft a player who has already endured a career ending knee injury instead of developing a player who will sustain one some time down the road?

Bowers missing a tackle.

Apparently Bowers has already undergone major knee surgery and it has been deemed very likely that he will suffer from arthritis in said bending joint for the rest of his life.  History has shown that this kind of chronic pain dramatically shortens the careers of athletes--all athletes.

Other reports state that Bowers will need to undergo more surgeries in order to be able to play at any time in the future.  One of these surgeries is known as "Microfracture" surgery, which is not exactly "experimental" but it's pretty close.  Microfracture surgery has been hit and miss for NFL players so far.  The Lions own Gosder Cherilus underwent the same procedure before last season and didn't he just play lights out last year?

Bowers coming up short again.

Now maybe, just maybe, the Lions believe that because they have a history with said procedures, they think they know how to work with them and would feel comfortable having Bowers take up one of the team tubs for the next ten years...I don't know, but it is a MAJOR red flag.

But it's not even the only red flag surrounding the former Clemson Tiger.

Bowers is the definition of a "one year wonder." This is not a term of endearment.  It simply means that in his first two years of playing college ball you were surprised to find out that he was actually on the field at all--because he didn't exactly do much to make you take notice of him.

But when the bright lights came on and he knew he became draft eligible...he lit it up.

Bowers showing how to execute a proper facemask.

Now there are a lot of reasons a guy can be considered a one year wonder...Barry Sanders was one because he played behind Thurman Thomas at Oklahoma State.  Bowers played behind...let me get back to you on that one.

Is it necessarily a bad thing that when it really counted, Bowers came shining through?  No, not necessarily, but it does make me wonder about how he'll play once he's signed his name to a multi-million dollar contract...does he go right back to being a complacent nobody?  It's very possible.

 Now, this is kind of likely, because the Lions do have a history of going out on a limb and drafting players with prior injuries.

Shaun Rogers came in with a bad knee...but he ended up playing quite a bit his first season.  And he dominated.

Bowers missing a tackle, again.  I'm noticing a trend.

But Rogers was a Millen pick...and Millen liked to put gold stars next to anybody's name that might never play again.  He loved those guys.

Hopefully Mayhew is smarter than that.  His picks of Stafford and Suh are very encouraging.  But he did pick Jahvid Best last year, "King of the Youtube Concussion."  So who knows which way he'll go.

Furthermore, probably the most important point in not taking Bowers is...DE is not a dire need right now.  Chris Houston will most likely be a free agent when the lockout ends--and he was just kind of good.  But he was the best corner back we had on our roster.

The Lions NEED a cornerback or two.  The Lions do not have a starting caliber outside linebacker on the roster at all right now.

And, oh yeah, there's a reason that Matthew Stafford has ended each of his two seasons on the IR...the offensive line hasn't been able to sufficiently protect him.  Maybe the Lions would like Bowers to eventually replace Kyle VandenBosch in two years...but, guys, you have to play this year too.