Back in January, new Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith, at the time considered a top-10 NFL Draft prospect, suffered a gruesome leg injury, tearing his ACL and MCL during the first quarter of the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. The NFL Draft is being televised on ESPN and the NFL Network. The injury was so severe that there are still questions whether Smith will play at all in 2016. That savior turned out to be the Cowboys, who picked him 34th overall, the third pick of the second round.
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Elliott immediately slots in at the top of the ball carrying depth chart and should provide an electrifying presence for the Cowboys that takes some of the pressure off quarterback Tony Romo to be the engine that drives the offense. However, the Cowboys took the risk of taking him early in Round 2 and their gamble turned into an emotional, feel-good moment involving the linebacker-only Dallas was reportedly quite close to never allowing Smith to have that moment. Smith will also be reuniting with his brother, running back Rod Smith, on the Cowboys.
“This is similar to how we played a couple of years ago”, coach Jason Garrett said.
“He s trying to rehab and I heard he might not be able to play this year”, Bowman said. That disclaimer goes double for tight end, though team history in the second round forces me to note that Hunter Henry is also available.
If Jerry and company are looking for a riskier pick, there are two guys still on the board: UCLA’s Myles Jack and Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence. Few linebackers in this or any recent class have the variety of tools the Notre Dame star possesses.
Behind an offensive line that includes three Pro Bowlers in left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin, Elliott will be an instant impact player in Dallas. National Football League teams must see him as too much of a “throwback” to the point that he may not be too useful in the modern passing era.
“The scheme is very linebacker friendly and I like it a lot”, Bowman said.
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While Notre Dame didn’t utilize Smith as a primary pass rusher, he did generate pressure when called upon. The outcome is dependent on whether his nerve regenerates and he gets back to the player he was at Notre Dame.
