With the 5th pick in the draft the Washington Redskins select...

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

I keep hearing mixed reviews on Fowler:

According to some, a premium athlete at the position.

According to others, lacks explosion, solid all around but not a premium pass-rusher who will take time to develop into that role - if he does at all.

If there is something I am missing on the guy, I am happy to hear it. I agree that a pass-rushing OLB is a bigger immediate need than WR (duh!), but I am not seeing the "specialness" that puts Fowler on the level of Williams or Cooper.

[For those suggesting we bypass Cooper: Think about it, unless Fowler/Beasley/Ray/Gregory are on the same talent level as Cooper/Williams, then folks are saying that we should knowingly take a lesser talent - just b/c no immediate need exists for the clearly superior talent. Sorry, I just don't see that as a blueprint for long-term success].

What separates him from others is size, strength, and nastiness at the point of attack. Where you worry about guys like Beasley and Shane Ray is their ability to set the edge against the run game. Athletic for sure, but can they hold the point of attack and get off blocks. If they're not strong enough to hold the point of attack then the ILBs get sealed off in the wash and it's a good shot at a 5 yard gain at minimum on most runs to their side.

Fowler definitely will not have that problem. He's by far the strongest of the edge rushers available. He seats and digs in.

18 sack guy? Maybe never. A Ryan Kerrigan clone with maybe a bit more upside? Yes.