Typically when you draft a pass rusher with the third overall pick, they're one of the favorites to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. I haven't found odds for that yet to see where Dante Fowler, Jr. ranks in that regard, but Danny Kelly of Field Gulls and SB Nation has pegged him as one of the favorites for the award.
Dante Fowler Jr.
The Jaguars used their first-round pick to grab the former Florida pass rusher in Fowler, and he'll have a real shot at not only stealing some of Chris Clemons' snaps from the weakside spot, but taking over for him as starter in 2015. Fowler, who grabbed 15 tackles for a loss, 17 quarterback hurries, and 8.5 sacks in 2014, should get plenty of one-on-ones on the outside with the help of Sen'Derrick Marks and newly signed Jared Odrick, as those two draw a lot of attention on the inside.
Fowler has it all -- size, speed, length, athleticism -- and could be a real factor in his first year.
Fowler should see a lot of snaps and a lot of pass rush situations as a rookie in the Jaguars defense, from a variety of positions. I'm not sure how many sacks Fowler will end up with, and to be frank as a rookie it doesn't really matter to me, but Bovada has set an over/under for a lot of the rookie defensive players.
Currently, both Vic Beasley and Dante Fowler, Jr. are set at over/under 7.5 sacks in their rookie seasons.
Where do you think Fowler will come in on that line? Personally, I'd say it's a "push" but probably the under. Not because I don't think Fowler will be good, but it's just a big transition from college to the NFL. Fowler will certainly have more help than he did at Florida, where his sack totals weren't all that impressive.