Day 2: Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith are chosen despite knee injuries.
chicago» It was a long wait and a soft landing for Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith. Now about those knees. The pair of athletic linebackers with health questions went early in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday, with Jacksonville trading up to grab Jack two spots after Dallas selected Smith with the No. 34 overall pick.
Jack and Smith were two of the biggest names still on the board at the beginning of the day, and Alabama running back Derrick Henry went to Tennessee at No. 45. Henry powered the Crimson Tide to the national championship last season and won the Heisman Trophy.
Jack was considered a potential top-five pick at one point, but concerns about his right knee sent him tumbling down the board. He played both ways as a freshman at UCLA and was the Pac-12 offensive and defensive newcomer of the year. But a knee injury limited him to three games last season.
“Bottom line is, man, I’m ready to go,” Jack said. “I’ll be there rookie minicamp. I’m a 100 percent healthy. I’m cleared. The knee shouldn’t be a concern anymore. I definitely proved that with my play. There’s nothing else to talk about. I’m ready to play ball.”
General manager Dave Caldwell said Jack had a great workout for the team.
“You’d never know there was anything wrong with him,” Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said. “As far as we’re concerned there’s not right now. There’s no plan for surgeries. There’s no plan for any additional treatment. I think we’re good to go.”
Smith also was expected to be a first-round pick before he tore two ligaments in his left knee during Notre Dame’s loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Following the advice of doctors at Notre Dame and agent Eugene Parker, who passed away from cancer on March 31, Smith had Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper perform the surgery.
“I’m going to be fine. I’ll be able to play again,” Smith said. “It’s just timing. Timing is everything and for Dallas to draft me, they’re going to get a great player.”