National Football League

Report: Injured LB Jaylon Smith likely to miss 2016 NFL season

Published Apr. 15, 2016 1:26 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith’s Fiesta Bowl knee injury makes him one of the biggest risk-reward prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft, but it turns out any team that selects him likely won’t see the reward until 2017.

#ND LB Jaylon Smith, who was a top 5 pick before the injury, is expected to sit out 2016. Many teams believe he'll be back to form in 2017.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 15, 2016

Smith tore his ACL and MCL in Notre Dame’s loss to Ohio State and was in Indianapolis on Thursday for a medical recheck given that his injury took place less than two months before the February Scouting Combine. Rapoport’s report indicates it didn’t go well. Smith has said he believes he’s the best player in the draft, but teams will have to weigh how much a lost season will lower his draft stock from what otherwise might have been a top-five spot.

Smith, 20, led the Fighting Irish in tackles last season with 113.