The Case for Myles Jack

[TheFinisher]

Jack makes a lot of sense if this team is being honest with itself of wanting to make the logical choice and select the best talent available.

There are 4 elite talents in this draft. Tunsil, Ramsey, Jack and Elliott. By most accounts, the top 3 picks look to be some combination of Tunsil, Wentz, Ramsey. That leaves Elliott and Jack as the two remaining blue chip players on the board.

This front office has made it clear the strategy they have in place is allocating its resources to the OL and going cheap at RB. We can whine about it all we want but Darren McFadden just proved their claim by being 4th in the league in rushing yards after doing virtually nothing his entire career in Oakland. Signing Morris was their answer to cover their bases, it would be incredibly shocking and against team philosophy to draft a runner in the top 5 based on the evidence presented of how they want to go about that position.

Rolando McClain and Sean Lee have played a grand total of NINE games together in 2 years. It is also apparent the team does not trust McClain by the 1 year deals they continue to offer him. He's a bridge player whom the team would probably like to move on from once they have a long term solution in place. And with Sean Lee's injury history and 30 year old age it would be wise to start looking for the next guy to captain you defense. Myles Jack can be that player.

Keep in mind that Rod Marinelli pounded the table for Shazier in 2014 before watching him go one pick before us. Jack is cut from the same cloth but is a superior prospect in every way.

So unless this team wants to reach for need and take the less talented player at DE, Myles Jack makes the most sense. It's similar in the way the Zack Martin pick went down. He wasn't their biggest need, but they stuck to the board, listened to the scouts, and selected a future All Pro player by going BPA.

And would anyone in their right mind really be disappointed if he lived up to the projections of becoming the next Ray Lewis/Patrick Willis?

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

The question is whether you can take a great prospect (but one with some holes: physicality, knee injury) at a position that is not a cornerstone position (QB, DE, OT, CB) at 4th overall. No matter how good Jack is and can be, a non-pass rushing LB just does not affect a game like a pass rushing DE or QB or shutdown CB. I think you have to go QB, or bite the bullet, and take Bosa, who may not have humongous upside, but has little downside and is at a premier position and one of need.

 

[ROUSH8692]

Hey thanks for posting this TheFinisher. I had already written off Jack as being a choice for us at all because of the issue w his knee.
No doubt he is the most elite athlete in this year's draft after watching that video.
I also agree that the 4 overall pick needs to be a game changer. Who knows what we do, but if we do go w Jack this video made me feel a tad bit better about it

 

[Idgit]

The guys a beast. Love watching him play.

The knee, the knee, the knee.

 

[Avery]

If we stay at #4, Ramsey, Jack or Elliott would all be picks I could get behind. I can't see Elliott dropping behind the Eagles at #8 and don't really like the thought of him shredding us for the next decade, but would feel better about it with Jack chasing him.

 

[jnday]

Jack makes a lot of sense if this team is being honest with itself of wanting to make the logical choice and select the best talent available.

There are 4 elite talents in this draft. Tunsil, Ramsey, Jack and Elliott. By most accounts, the top 3 picks look to be some combination of Tunsil, Wentz, Ramsey. That leaves Elliott and Jack as the two remaining blue chip players on the board.

This front office has made it clear the strategy they have in place is allocating its resources to the OL and going cheap at RB. We can whine about it all we want but Darren McFadden just proved their claim by being 4th in the league in rushing yards after doing virtually nothing his entire career in Oakland. Signing Morris was their answer to cover their bases, it would be incredibly shocking and against team philosophy to draft a runner in the top 5 based on the evidence presented of how they want to go about that position.

Rolando McClain and Sean Lee have played a grand total of NINE games together in 2 years. It is also apparent the team does not trust McClain by the 1 year deals they continue to offer him. He's a bridge player whom the team would probably like to move on from once they have a long term solution in place. And with Sean Lee's injury history and 30 year old age it would be wise to start looking for the next guy to captain you defense. Myles Jack can be that player.

Keep in mind that Rod Marinelli pounded the table for Shazier in 2014 before watching him go one pick before us. Jack is cut from the same cloth but is a superior prospect in every way.

So unless this team wants to reach for need and take the less talented player at DE, Myles Jack makes the most sense. It's similar in the way the Zack Martin pick went down. He wasn't their biggest need, but they stuck to the board, listened to the scouts, and selected a future All Pro player by going BPA.

And would anyone in their right mind really be disappointed if he lived up to the projections of becoming the next Ray Lewis/Patrick Willis?

McFadden had decent stats , but he made no impact as a playmaker. This is s case of stats not telling the whole story . When it comes to drafting a LB with the 4th pick, the only way a LB would be worth the pick is if he has elite pass rushing skills. Of course drafting an injured player is not smart and the only LB position that he could play would require Sean Lee to move . Other than these problems , it is a great ideal.

 

[Kaiser]

When it comes to drafting a LB with the 4th pick, the only way a LB would be worth the pick is if he has elite pass rushing skills.

Jack can rusher the passer (though not enough to justify the pick, just like you say). But the league is becoming a pass-dominant league and the New England offense is a good example. If Jack really is the best coverage LB to come into the league in a decade, he would have a big impact all by himself against teams like that and the ones moving toward that type of offense.

 

[reddyuta]

I do not agree with the OP that Jack is a elite blue chip n this draft,the only elite blue chip LB in this draft was Jaylon smith and his career is probably over.You also state the injury woes of our LBs but are advocating drafting a LB who had a serious knee injury and still serious knee injury concerns and he still cant run a a 40 !!.so we are to have blind faith that his knee is healed and he will be ready to go for the season?.you take these kinds of risks in the 2nd rd,not the top 5 in the draft.Myles jack is total non starter for me at 4.

 

[TheFinisher]

McFadden had decent stats , but he made no impact as a playmaker. This is s case of stats not telling the whole story . When it comes to drafting a LB with the 4th pick, the only way a LB would be worth the pick is if he has elite pass rushing skills. (Or if he's the next Derrick Brooks/Patrick Willis/Ray Lewis caliber LB to come into the league. Which are the comparisons NFL personnel are throwing out there with Jack. Think the Panthers regret drafting Keuchley in the top 10? If you're an elite player, you're an elite player. Off ball LBs are in the middle of the action and when they're special like Jack is there is no one on the defense that can make the game changing type plays they can. He can do anything you ask of him from blitzing off the edge to covering WRs on the outside. From everything he's shown on tape, he's the most complete and special back 7 defender to come into the league in many years. This is why there are plenty of scouts and draftniks that have claimed Myles Jack is the best player in this draft class) Of course drafting an injured player is not smart (tell that to the Rams, who drafted a player top 10 that couldn't do anything until the season was underway. By all accounts Jack won't even miss OTAs, he's already been medically cleared by UCLA doctors and unlike Gurley was actually able to have a Pro Day without limitations. It was a meniscus tear, there is almost a zero percent chance he misses time according to his timeframe.) and the only LB position that he could play would require Sean Lee to move ( The 2 best LBs of the past decade were Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis, each 6'1" 245 lbs. Jack is 6'1" 245 lbs. basically the prototypical size you want your MLB to be. If you don't want to play him at Mike right away he could easily make an impact at Sam. Jack has more position versatility than any one else in this class, it's just odd to me I've seen you say he can only play Will in multiple threads on the topic.) Other than these problems , it is a great ideal.

Responses in bold

 

[TheFinisher]

I do not agree with the OP that Jack is a elite blue chip n this draft, ( that's fine, but just know you're in a very tiny small minority of people who think that) the only elite blue chip LB in this draft was Jaylon smith and his career is probably over.You also state the injury woes of our LBs but are advocating drafting a LB who had a serious knee injury (again, a lateral meniscus tear is not a serious injury. It's a fairly common injury and routine procedure with an extremely low risk of effecting long term health.) and still serious knee injury concerns and he still cant run a a 40 !!( so he didn't run a 40... So what? Do you really need to see Jack run a 40 to know he's fast? He had a full workout at his pro day with zero limitations. He also jumped 40 inches which shows his knee is fine more than running a 40 ever could) .so we are to have blind faith that his knee is healed and he will be ready to go for the season?.(well he was already medically cleared by doctors so there's no need for blind faith)you take these kinds of risks in the 2nd rd,not the top 5 in the draft.Myles jack is total non starter for me at 4.

 

[reddyuta]

He is cleared medically by doctors but will not run a 40? is it that hard to run a 40 two times if you a fit athlete? something doesnt add up here.

 

[Rogerthat12]

The guys a beast. Love watching him play.

The knee, the knee, the knee.

Medical recheck is everything for Jack, if it checks out he is going early, if not he could definitely drop.

 

[TheFinisher]

He is cleared medically by doctors but will not run a 40? is it that hard to run a 40 two times if you a fit athlete? something doesnt add up here.

These guys train a couple months to run that 40. Maybe he felt he didn't have enough time to prepare for it and didn't want to run a slower time than he knows he can. His film says everything you need to know about his speed, which is why no one questions that aspect of his game.

 

[jnday]

Responses in bold

He also has a questionable knee injury and drafting Jack would force Lee to move to the middle where he can't hold up due to injuries. Jack is not a physical LB like those listed and his tackling style is more dragging them down from behind than hitting them head on. There seems to be more problems with the knee and his recovery than fans were led to believe when he was healing. Is an injured, non-pass rushing, LB that does not play with a physical style, worth the 4th pick? I don't think so.

 

[Killerinstinct]

I think Jack (If his knee checks out) is the most likely pick at 4. Ramsey would be if he was there but will be gone top 3 most likely.

 

[mattjames2010]

I do not agree with the OP that Jack is a elite blue chip n this draft,the only elite blue chip LB in this draft was Jaylon smith and his career is probably over.You also state the injury woes of our LBs but are advocating drafting a LB who had a serious knee injury and still serious knee injury concerns and he still cant run a a 40 !!.so we are to have blind faith that his knee is healed and he will be ready to go for the season?.you take these kinds of risks in the 2nd rd,not the top 5 in the draft.Myles jack is total non starter for me at 4.

Can you provide me with why you think this? I saw Smith as a Rolando McClain-like talent. Not him coming out of college, his production in the league. Looks slow in coverage, and I've seen him get absolutely dominated by blocks that allowed RBs to take it to the house. I can't think of a single play with Jack where he got burned.

Smith was a good talent, but I'm glad he is not a consideration for us in the top 10.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Been a supporter of Myles, but unlike some supporters of that choice - if he can't run the 40, you don't know JACK!

 

[Sydla]

Can you provide me with why you think this? I saw Smith as a Rolando McClain-like talent. Not him coming out of college, his production in the league. Looks slow in coverage, and I've seen him get absolutely dominated by blocks that allowed RBs to take it to the house. I can't think of a single play with Jack where he got burned.

Smith was a good talent, but I'm glad he is not a consideration for us in the top 10.

Slow in coverage? LOL.