Should the Broncos target Myles Jack or Jaylon Smith?
2016 NFL Draft: Should the Denver Broncos target one of the draft’s top defensive talents in Myles Jack or Jaylon Smith despite injuries?…
As we get set for day two of the 2016 NFL Draft, should the Denver Broncos consider moving on one of the draft’s most talented linebackers?
This comes with a catch…
Both Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith were projected top five selections, and would easily have been were it not for possible career-threatening injuries. ESPN’s Adam Schefter updated us on the status of Myles Jack as of Friday afternoon…
Dr. James Andrews, who examined Myles Jack in December, told the UCLA LB today that he does not need micro-fracture surgery.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2016
The tweet appears to have been deleted, but I remembered reading Joel Klatt’s tweet that said Myles Jack would wind up going undrafted. Apparently, he just meant for the first round.
Whoops.
Again...Jack tweet was meant for tonight only...Undrafted in the first round
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) April 29, 2016
It’s entirely possible that Jack goes within the top five or ten selections of day two. It’s also entirely possible that teams just were that badly turned off by his knee that they can’t fathom taking him with even a 2nd round pick. I think if the Broncos wanted Jack, their chance to get him was Thursday night, and they chose Paxton Lynch.
I’m not complaining. We got our quarterback.
Jaylon Smith, the other linebacker in this draft with a serious knee injury, is an entirely different story. Some are worried about the potential of nerve damage with Smith’s injury, which would seem to indicate that they would be more willing to pass on him in the 2nd round of the draft.
The Broncos might not wait around.
Depending on what other players fall, there’s not going to be anyone nearly as talented as Jaylon Smith. The way I look at it is this…
If the Broncos would be willing to spend a 1st round pick in 2017 on Jaylon Smith, why wouldn’t you be willing to take a chance on him at the bottom of the 2nd round this year? You’re basically giving yourself two first round picks in 2017, because Smith likely won’t play this year.
Most teams would sacrifice a late 2nd round pick in the present draft for a top 5 talent in the next crop.
The Broncos are going to get some good players tonight, so we just need to sit back patiently and see what John Elway has up his sleeve.