The 2016 NFL Draft is full of some great players, but few were on the same level as top prospects Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith. Both suffered brutal injuries that would put question marks around their draft status come April, and now we wait to hear the final results from their medical re-checks.
Smith was the best linebacker heading into the draft and Notre Dame's highest projected player. Smith suffered a nasty injury in his last college game, tearing his left ACL and LCL which is just about as bad as it gets. To make matters worse Smith may have suffered nerve damage which could put his NFL career in jeopardy. Smith will need to wait and see if any nerve damage has taken place because that will dramatically affect his draft value.
Jack was UCLA's top linebacker and was easily a top five pick in the draft before his injury. Jack tore his lateral meniscus while playing against BYU which forced him to miss three games during his junior year.
A meniscus tear is serious but far less serious than and ACL or LCL. Jack has been hard at work rehabbing his injured knee and now is reportedly returned to around 85 percent full health. He was that healthy during his pro day but refused to run the 40-yard dash drill.
The Dallas Cowboys have been one of Jack's main suitors and could look to select the talented linebacker with the fourth overall pick. Dallas has a lot of needs so it will attempt to get as many facts about Jack's injury as possible and just how far along he is with the healing process.
The Cowboys would love to be able to start Jack right away, and if he is indeed back to 100 percent his draft stock will rise significantly. Jack would fill a void in the Dallas linebacking corps and would potentially become the best linebacker on the team. Jack is an explosive playmaker who can play in coverage as well as disrupt the passer, and his speed is second to none.
Jack (when healthy) was recently compared to Ray Lewis, however he will be a lot happier if he has a career like the former Baltimore Ravens legend. Jack must be cleared medically in Indianapolis on Thursday before any team can feel good about selecting him with its first overall pick.
