Jaylon Smith | LB | Notre Dame

[TheFinisher]

Just feels like this is one of those kids who checks off every box. Blue chip prospect with elite athletic traits who took home every award. This defense was invented for a roaming Will LB like Jaylon in mind, about as clean a prospect as you can get. Would be a home run pick in the 1st.

 

[waving monkey]

his diffidently one of the canidates

 

[tm1119]

Only watched a couple games but I wasn't overly impressed with him as a top 10 pick. Really good when kept clean, but I didn't see a LB that loves contact. Didn't fight off blocks all that well and didn't see him meeting blockers in the hole very often either.

 

[ccb04]

May be a bit biased being an Irish fan...but think he's one of the best defensive prospects in the draft.

Versatile...solid in coverage...fantastic game speed & athleticism...relentless in pursuit & solid as a blitzer...breaks down well in space & can arrive with some pop/authority.

 

[Sydla]

Only watched a couple games but I wasn't overly impressed with him as a top 10 pick. Really good when kept clean, but I didn't see a LB that loves contact. Didn't fight off blocks all that well and didn't see him meeting blockers in the hole very often either.

He was much better at getting off blocks this year than last year. And the doesn't like contact comment is bizarre. He's physical and he's also pretty fundamentally sound as a tackler.

He's easily a Top Ten prospect on his athleticism alone. Reality is every prospect in this draft in the Top Ten has some flaws. Smith is no different.

 

[Gaede]

I like this guy

 

[coach steele]

Can this guy play middle? I like Miles Jack too but have the same question? I wonder how we will organize our linebackers next year. I'm not sure that we want to move Lee back to the Middle and a top 10 selection should play right away. If we draft either guy, then Ro is probably gone (though I think McClain would be an outstanding SAM).

Love this kids tenacity, spirit, and athleticism. Ultimately, I would love to have a Patrick Willis/Luke Kueckly player manning the middle.

 

[tm1119]

He was much better at getting off blocks this year than last year. And the doesn't like contact comment is bizarre. He's physical and he's also pretty fundamentally sound as a tackler.

He's easily a Top Ten prospect on his athleticism alone. Reality is every prospect in this draft in the Top Ten has some flaws. Smith is no different.

The contact comment was still more about his play when not clean. He's no doubt a terrific player and tackler when he has free roam. I just think he's going to be dealing with o lineman a lot more in the NFL and I didn't see a player that has the ability to dominate when dealing with blockers. But like I said, I only watched 2 or 3 games on him so far. Maybe my opinion will change.

But seriously, how many non-pass rushing LB's have been drafted in the top 10 recently? 1, and that's Keuchley...maybe 2 depending on how you categorize Barr, but he's more of a hybrid. We'll see but Smith probably is more realistically a 12-20 pick.

 

[TheFinisher]

The contact comment was still more about his play when not clean. He's no doubt a terrific player and tackler when he has free roam. I just think he's going to be dealing with o lineman a lot more in the NFL and I didn't see a player that has the ability to dominate when dealing with blockers. But like I said, I only watched 2 or 3 games on him so far. Maybe my opinion will change.

But seriously, how many non-pass rushing LB's have been drafted in the top 10 recently? 1, and that's Keuchley...maybe 2 depending on how you categorize Barr, but he's more of a hybrid. We'll see but Smith probably is more realistically a 12-20 pick.

I've seen some buzz saying Smith is best player in this class regardless of position. He's highly thought of and will go very early.

Also, there are no linebackers in the NFL that will win a battle being engaged with an offensive lineman. The name of the game is to beat them with athleticism. Every single NFL linebacker would get burried into the turf if they allow a Lineman to get their hands on them. Speed and athleticism is king, even moreso in our defense. Maybe 25 years ago when the league was not so dominated by the passing game and spread offenses you had some smashmouth old school thumpers at LB, but today's game is all about being able to run. Jaylon Smith is the modern prototype.

 

[tm1119]

I've seen some buzz saying Smith is best player in this class regardless of position. He's highly thought of and will go very early.
Also, there are no linebackers in the NFL that will win a battle being engaged with an offensive lineman. The name of the game is to beat them with athleticism. Every single NFL linebacker would get burried into the turf if they allow a Lineman to get their hands on them. Speed and athleticism is king, even moreso in our defense. Maybe 25 years ago when the league was not so dominated by the passing game and spread offenses you had some smashmouth old school thumpers at LB, but today's game is all about being able to run. Jaylon Smith is the modern prototype.

Lol what are you talking about and what sport are you watching?

 

[coach steele]

Linebackers have to be able to disengage from lineman and fight through the trash as they will rarely run unobstructed to the ball. I didn't see this as a weakness for him, however. More so, I see a prospect who is a sideline to sideline player with coverage ability.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Draft him and he's a ten year starter for your team.....you could do far worse than Smith.

Smith
Wentz
Booker

That would be a dream draft for me.

 

[Bigdog]

Draft him and he's a ten year starter for your team.....you could do far worse than Smith.

Smith
Wentz
Booker

That would be a dream draft for me.

Me too

 

[Sydla]

I've seen most mocks have him anywhere from 6-10ish.............. so if we stick at 6, he's a guy who could be on our board at that spot.

Really going to be interesting to see how the scouting department ranks these QBs. At 6, one of the QBs could be there too.

 

[btcutter]

Can this guy play middle? I like Miles Jack too but have the same question? I wonder how we will organize our linebackers next year. I'm not sure that we want to move Lee back to the Middle and a top 10 selection should play right away. If we draft either guy, then Ro is probably gone (though I think McClain would be an outstanding SAM).

Love this kids tenacity, spirit, and athleticism. Ultimately, I would love to have a Patrick Willis/Luke Kueckly player manning the middle.

I like Miles Jack more because he is more physical and before his injury he bulked up to 240's and was playing great without losing any speed this year.
Jack played all three LB positions at UCLA and he was sorely missed by the defense. Definitely impact player. Watch this kid line up on the outside and blanket his man and get INTs is pretty special. He maybe a better fit in 4-3.

 

[tyke1doe]

I've seen most mocks have him anywhere from 6-10ish.............. so if we stick at 6, he's a guy who could be on our board at that spot.

Really going to be interesting to see how the scouting department ranks these QBs. At 6, one of the QBs could be there too.

If one of these quarterbacks drops to six, that pretty much tells you all you need to know about us NOT taking one and tells you what other NFL teams think about them.

Teams will jump up to get a franchise quarterback, if they deem him as a top 5 pick. Teams are willing to take their chances that a good but not franchise is available in the lower rounds.

Did the Browns really think Johnny Manziel was going to be a franchise quarterback? Did the Vikings really believe Christian Ponder was going to be a franchise quarterback? Did the Jaguars really Blain Gabbert was going to be a franchise quarterback?

If Lynch or Goff is not gone by the sixth pick, trade down, get more picks and get our quarterback-to-groom in the second. Take an immediate starter in the first.

 

[btcutter]

If one of these quarterbacks drops to six, that pretty much tells you all you need to know about us NOT taking one and tells you what other NFL teams think about them.

Teams will jump up to get a franchise quarterback, if they deem him as a top 5 pick. Teams are willing to take their chances that a good but not franchise is available in the lower rounds.

Did the Browns really think Johnny Manziel was going to be a franchise quarterback? Did the Vikings really believe Christian Ponder was going to be a franchise quarterback? Did the Jaguars really Blain Gabbert was going to be a franchise quarterback?

If Lynch or Goff is not gone by the sixth pick, trade down, get more picks and get our quarterback-to-groom in the second. Take an immediate starter in the first.

I am not sure I agree.

It's all about your scouting ability. If you believe your scouting then you take that QB who you had in the top 2-3 but dropped to 6.

Big Ben was 11th pick. Rodgers was 23 pick. Ponder and Gabbert were over drafted for sure. But I fall back to my scouting department.

 

[gmoney112]

He reminds me of Patrick Willis.

I haven't seen enough of him to compare him to Shazier, but several reports have reported he's a better prospect.

Not sure i like a LB top 10 unless it's a Kuechly. But we've shown interest in LB's recently.

 

[tyke1doe]

I am not sure I agree.

It's all about your scouting ability. If you believe your scouting then you take that QB who you had in the top 2-3 but dropped to 6.

Big Ben was 11th pick. Rodgers was 23 pick. Ponder and Gabbert were over drafted for sure. But I fall back to my scouting department.

I agree and see where you're going. However, we aint the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Packers.
The Steelers are a solid, stable franchise. They have a history of building and developing their talent. They had the coaching and the structure to take a chance on Big Ben and struck gold. Besides, they had Tommy Maddox as quarterback who isn't even in Romo's league. So it benefited Pittsburgh to make such a move.

In Green Bay's case, they still had Favre. And Favre had already won a Super Bowl and played in another. There was no urgency on Green Bay's part to get Favre a Super Bowl ring.

The Jags, the Vikings and the Browns - because they either have never won a Super Bowl or never been to a Super Bowl - were more in "gamble" mode. They hoped they had picked a quarterback to lead them to the next level, but, in reality, they were gambling against a history of futility.

Although Dallas has a richer history, we're desperate to get Tony Romo a Super Bowl. And I don't know if we're in the same place as the Packers and Steelers to pick a quarterback lower in the first round compared to where Green Bay and Pittsburgh are as organizations.

If that makes sense.

 

[IAmLegend]

A lot of mocks have us taking him. Wouldn't be mad at the pick at all, but would rather have Ramsey or Bosa if available.