How serious is Jaylon Smith’s injury? Could he be in play at 11 and when would he be ready to play? — @BarberSquires
The Notre Dame linebacker was probably a lock to be a top-10 pick before the devastating knee injury he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl occurred, meaning I doubt he would have been available at No. 11. After tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee on Jan. 1, Smith’s future is less certain. Reports are the surgery went well and I’m not sure that’s a major consideration here because you’ve never heard of an athlete having a surgery that didn’t go well. If there wasn’t nerve damage and Smith checks out medically, he’s probably a first-round pick and one national scout for an NFC club that I spoke to said he certainly still likes him later on in Round 1 if everything checks out. But it might be a longshot for Smith to see the field in 2016 and that will be a very big consideration for any club thinking about drafting the talented playmaker.
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