Before Suh, the last DT drafted in top 5 to make a Pro Bowl was Sean Gilbert in '92

[rodeo]

Fairley = Damione Lewis

[Snake]

Fairley = Damione Lewis

Thats what I said... Get ready to be bashed.

[Icege]

I hate seeing people make up these imaginary rules for the draft :/

[unicar15]

Its pretty clear to me that Fairley is NOT Ndamakong Suh. We better not draft him #1.

[rmoneyg35]

Damion Lewis isn't that bad, Just not #1 pick worthy.

[BlueHose]

I would trade down if possible. If forced to take the #1 pick, I'd go with Bowers...the kid's a beast. I realize DT is a bigger need, but I see Fairley getting cut blocked into a knee injury after he pile drives one too many QBs. I would take Dareus before Fairley.

[psyburn21]

It'll be between Fairley, Bowers, and Peterson. IMO I don't think WR is as big a need position as some are making it out to be and there isn't a QB worth taking at that position with Luck out.

Honestly though, I don't get why people treat Fairley like he's trash. He was one of the dominate defensive players in the SEC this past season and dominate in the National Championship game.

[rodeo]

Damion Lewis isn't that bad, Just not #1 pick worthy.

exactly. he was actually pretty decent in Carolina. but worthy of the #1 pick? absolutely not even close.

just a middle of the road stop gap who provides a moderate bump in talent up from the no-names we currently have. that's what Fairley will end up as.

[Cat'sGrowl]

It'll be between Fairley, Bowers, and Peterson. IMO I don't think WR is as big a need position as some are making it out to be and there isn't a QB worth taking at that position with Luck out.

Honestly though, I don't get why people treat Fairley like he's trash. He was one of the dominate defensive players in the SEC this past season and dominate in the National Championship game.

Ohhh Raging Bull.....

[blackcatgrowl]

People like to talk about the risks of drafting a quarterback, but a defensive tackle being drafted that high presents just as much a risk if not more so.

Here are the defensive tackles drafted in the top 5 since Cortez Kennedy was drafted #3 overall in 1990 and went on to have a Hall of Fame career:

Russell Maryland #1 overall in 1993: Bust

Sean Gilbert #3 overall in 1992: Bust (although at least he made a Pro Bowl one year)

Dan Wilkinson #1 overall in 1994: Bust

Darrell Russell #2 overall in 1997: Bust

Gerard Warren #3 overall in 2001: Bust

Dewayne Robertson #3 overall in 2003: Bust

Glenn Dorsey #5 overall in 2008: Bust

Ndamukong Suh #2 overall in 2010: Not a bust

Gerald McCoy #3 overall in 2010: Too soon to tell, he was just okay this season (and he's the one I keep hearing analysts compare Fairley to)

No one thinks that Fairley is as good as Suh, so why would you draft him a full spot ahead of where Suh went last season? That's incredibly poor value you're getting there. If you are Ron Rivera and Marty Hurney and you want to pick Nick Fairley, PLEASE find a way to trade down so if he busts, at least we could recoup a pick close to our wasted one we traded for Armanti.

In closing, I'm 100% anti-Nick Fairley at #1. He is similar to Peppers in that he takes plays off at times, yet doesn't possess nearly the talent that Peppers had nor the talent Suh has. And history shows that picking defensive tackles that high usually doesn't end well.

Our offense is a wreck. Our Defense is serviceable. Why we would spend a #1 on a DT is beyond bizarre. We need to start by rebuilding the offense from the ground up.

That starts with QB play. Newton possesses rare natural talent than can run if blocking breaks down. If he declares and we go with a Defensive player over him, we're screwed.

[Baschski]

This whole business of saying "Fairley is going to be Sapp" or "Fairley is going to be Lewis" is pretty dumb. None of us have any clue how he's going to turn out, just like we don't know if AJ Green is going to be more like Calvin Johnson or Keary Colbert. So stop making absolute conclusions about a player just because you think it helps your argument for who you want to draft.