Today is day three of our Draft Review series. On Sunday we reviewed Baltimore’s entire 2017 NFL Draft class in an article you can view here. Yesterday, on Monday, we reviewed the Baltimore Ravens’ first round pick, Marlon Humphrey, CB from Alabama, in an article you can view here. Today, we are reviewing Baltimore’s second round pick Tyus Bowser. Bowser is a 21 year old outside linebacker from Houston. He spent four years with the Houston Cougars, between 2013 and 2016. In 2015, he helped to lead the Cougars to an American Athletic Conference Championship, and a Peach Bowl victory over the Florida State Seminoles. Bowser had a great career at Houston, where he played both defensive end and linebacker. The Ravens made Bowser a second round selection with the 47th pick overall in the draft. Today, we are going to take a look at Bowser’s skill set, his fit on the Ravens, predictions for him going forward, and give an overall grade to the selection.
Skill Set
Tyus Bowser is a great pass rushing linebacker. At 6’3″ 247 lbs, Bowser has substantial size for an NFL linebacker. He has a great knack for getting to the quarterback. In his four year career, he sacked the quarterback 22.5 times. He also has a huge wingspan at 33 1/4 inches, which he is able to use to wrap up the quarterback. He is explosive, and able to get off the snap quickly to move towards the quarterback, or other ball carrier. When Bowser is on the field, he is going to command attention from the opposing offense. If the opposing team wants to protect their quarterback, they will need to put blockers on Bowser, making lanes open on other parts of the field for other defenders. This is great for blitzes and other rushing schemes on defense. Finally, Bowser has tons of potential. He can develop into an elite pass rusher with the right defensive coaching.
Fit in Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens drafted Tyus Bowser in the second round of the NFL Draft. The second round is a round where players tend to become starters or contribute to the team at one point during their rookie season. Bowser will likely start sooner rather than later this upcoming season. With the departure of Elvis Dumervil earlier this offseason, the Ravens have a hole at pass rusher. This is a hole that Bowser can, and will likely fill. He will also be groomed to be the heir apparent to the aging, NFL defensive monster, of Terrell Suggs. Suggs is now 34, and will likely end his long career with the Ravens in the coming years. The Ravens need to continue to have production like his if they want to remain a top contender in the AFC, and Bowser will provide that if he is developed the right way into an elite pass rusher.
Predictions for Bowser
I predict that Bowser will become a starting pass rusher this season, and will have a decent year for a rookie. Although it will not be this season, I believe that Bowser will one day be the Ravens’ leading pass rusher, alongside another player in this draft class. Bowser will have Pro Bowl potential in his career, and I could see him going to one or two later in his career. In short, Bowser will become an effective pass rusher for the Ravens, becoming exactly what they had hoped for when picking him in this year’s draft.
College Statistics
2013 – (Freshman Year) – 26 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble.
2014 – (Sophomore Year) – 13 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 3 sacks.
2015 – (Junior Year) – 51 tackles, 7 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries.
2016 – (Senior Year) – 47 tackles, 12 for loss, 8.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble.
Selection Grade
The Ravens selected Tyus Bowser in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, with the 47th pick overall in that draft. Bowser was projected to be either a second or third round pick. The Ravens got a great prospect with tons of ability and potential, however they reached to get him. He would have likely still been available by the time the Ravens picked at 74 overall. The Ravens could have even traded back in the second round if they were dead set on picking him, however they did not. Maybe the Ravens knew something that I didn’t, but it seemed like a stretch for me, which is why I have to give this pick a B- grade. Again, nothing against Bowser, but the Ravens could have gotten more value for their pick, especially with prospects such as DeMarcus Walker and Raekwon McMillan still on the board at 47.
