Oakland Raiders Shouldn't Count Jaylon Smith Out

Oakland Raiders Shouldn’t Count Jaylon Smith Out

Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) cries as he is carted off the field after suffering an injury un the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Bottom Line

Is he still a 1st-round pick?

Of course not!

The quarterback position is the only position that you take in the first round when he’s not going to play in year one.

So when to you take him when when you just don’t know about him?

Well, something has to be going well for him to squat 500 and leg press 700 so soon after his surgery. And like his surgeon said, he’s enough of a freak athlete and good enough a player to play with drop foot. Plus there are other procedures he can have done if things don’t look right in 2016.

There are other teams that need an inside linebacker and have interest in the potential superstar. From what I’ve heard, his draft range somewhere between the fourth and fifth rounds. The Raiders pick in the middle of each round so the team should take him in the third.

He’s worth more of a risk than any 3rd-round pick that’s healthy.

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