Hypothetical-Where Would You Draft Jaylon Smith?

Top 10 talent when healthy, but a gruesome knee injury that some have likened to Marcus Lattimore's injury, and pessimism that he won't even see the field in 2016 or ever fully recover.

So all you arm-chair GMs, given that both the risk and reward are extremely high, at what point in the draft would you take the plunge?

Doninique easeley: no

TommyBrady12 said:

Doninique easeley: no

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Not even a 6th or 7th round flyer?

Not before the 5th round.. Maybe not even the 7th..

Isn't that the conspiracy kid? Didn't know he played football.

6th/7th round, with one of those untradeable picks what the hell

Someone will go Lattimore on it and take him before that

Froob said:

Isn't that the conspiracy kid? Didn't know he played football.

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Are you referring to Jaden Smith...Will Smith's (the actor) dumb*$$ son?

Depends what the medical staff thinks. If it's just a redshirt year, I'd take him in the 3rd or even 2nd. If it's a possible career ender, not until the 6th. Risk is worth the reward, though. Lots of 2nd or 3rd rounders will never contribute, look at Jermaine Cunningham or Jake Bequette. It's a crapshoot.

TommyBrady12 said:

Doninique easeley: no

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So you wouldn't use a late 3rd rounder on an injured but fantastic player because Easley was cut for factors that seemed to have little to do with his performance on the field?

I'm not going to pass or fail this draft based on whether or not we draft Smith, I'm good either way. But Easley should have absolutely nothing to do with that decision.

Tough to if he slips. If he was healthy, Top 4 pick no question about it. He might be the best athlete in draft, when his knee is right. Draft him in the third round with one of our compensatory picks and keep tabs on his rehab. If he pans out next year, wonderful. At the very least, he'll be good potential trade stock. If he's healthy next year or even part of this year, imagine Collins, Hightower, and Jaylon Smith? Whew, pretty sick.

AtomicDawg said:

Tough to if he slips. If he was healthy, Top 4 pick no question about it. He might be the best athlete in draft, when his knee is right. Draft him in the third round with one of our compensatory picks and keep tabs on his rehab. If he pans out next year, wonderful. At the very least, he'll be good potential trade stock. If he's healthy next year or even part of this year, imagine Collins, Hightower, and Jaylon Smith? Whew, pretty sick.

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It won't be Collins, Hightower and Smith. It would be one of the 2 plus Smith. They will not be able to sign both of them and Butler. People don't realize just how much turnover the '17 team will/may have. Ryan, Butler, Collins, Hightower, Long, Bennett, Pot Roast, Solder are all FA's and that's just off the top of my head. That's a massive amount of studs and hopeful contributers that if they don't pan out we are in trouble this year.

ViperGTS said:

It won't be Collins, Hightower and Smith. It would be one of the 2 plus Smith. They will not be able to sign both of them and Butler. People don't realize just how much turnover the '17 team will/may have. Ryan, Butler, Collins, Hightower, Long, Bennett, Pot Roast, Solder are all FA's and that's just off the top of my head. That's a massive amount of studs and hopeful contributers that if they don't pan out we are in trouble this year.

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So...would you take Smith?

primetime said:

Depends what the medical staff thinks. If it's just a redshirt year, I'd take him in the 3rd or even 2nd. If it's a possible career ender, not until the 6th. Risk is worth the reward, though. Lots of 2nd or 3rd rounders will never contribute, look at Jermaine Cunningham or Jake Bequette. It's a crapshoot.

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My thoughts, exactly.

NE is the kind of team who can get away with a one year stash--no problem, although if we're going to continue losing first round picks and missing in seconds/thirds, I'm going to change my mind.

I'd consider him in the 2nd/3rd, and I'd bet money someone will snatch him there, if not sooner.

supafly said:

My thoughts, exactly.

NE is the kind of team who can get away with a one year stash--no problem, although if we're going to continue losing first round picks and missing in seconds/thirds, I'm going to change my mind.

I'd consider him in the 2nd/3rd, and I'd bet money someone will snatch him there, if not sooner.

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I feel the 2nd is too early given the need for another OT to groom and probably RB/CB pick early, but would be fine taking the plunge in the 3rd with a comp pick. Very curious to see if other teams will be scared off after the 49ers' experience with Lattimore, and that was in the 4th round.

Gronk said:

So...would you take Smith?

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Yup. Like, others here have said so long as the medical team gives the OK. And also if BB and his team agree he would fit in NE. I am not completely knowledgable of his game and how it would fit but I gather he would be a Collins superfreak. Let Collins go, keep Hightower and add Smith what do you lose? You gain money to pay other players than Collins.

Crazy Patriot Guy said:

So you wouldn't use a late 3rd rounder on an injured but fantastic player because Easley was cut for factors that seemed to have little to do with his performance on the field?

I'm not going to pass or fail this draft based on whether or not we draft Smith, I'm good either way. But Easley should have absolutely nothing to do with that decision.

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Easely hardly played. It was a wasted pick thanks to his injured knees. I might use a 6th or 7th rounder on smith.

ViperGTS said:

It won't be Collins, Hightower and Smith. It would be one of the 2 plus Smith. They will not be able to sign both of them and Butler. People don't realize just how much turnover the '17 team will/may have. Ryan, Butler, Collins, Hightower, Long, Bennett, Pot Roast, Solder are all FA's and that's just off the top of my head. That's a massive amount of studs and hopeful contributers that if they don't pan out we are in trouble this year.

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Yeah, who knows why there's so much optimism regarding the prospect of keeping Butler, Collins, AND Hightower, but I have to agree that there's probably a good chance that they only choose to keep 2/3.

Right now, McCourty is the only one on defense who saw a huge payday. I think it's safe to assume that someone will be joining him, but it probably isn't likely that we're suddenly going to see three more guys fall into that category.

TommyBrady12 said:

Easely hardly played. It was a wasted pick thanks to his injured knees.

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He played 11 games both years. While certainly not what we expected or had hoped for, I'm not sure that I'd consider that "hardly played."

We can save that category for guys like Dowling, etc.

ViperGTS said:

Yup. Like, others here have said so long as the medical team gives the OK. And also if BB and his team agree he would fit in NE. I am not completely knowledgable of his game and how it would fit but I gather he would be a Collins superfreak. Let Collins go, keep Hightower and add Smith what do you lose? You gain money to pay other players than Collins.

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It's hard to get behind the idea of watching Collins walk away, but you're right that they should start to plan for the possibility. Having more options is a good thing.

On top of that, I think we need one more young, althletic LB anyway. I'm fully expecting a choice at LB, and I wouldn't be shocked to see it fall within the top 3 rounds.

I would love for NE to be all over this kid. Once again, he should've been a top 5-10 pick. Think Luke Kuechly. There's a video out there of him being used as a pass rusher during spring practices, and ABUSING Ronnie Stanley. I mean just destroying him and everyone else. I love this kid and someone is going to be very happy. PUP him and monitor him. Move him to IR if he can't play. If he can, you may get 5 weeks and a play-off run out of him.