UCLA’s Myles Jack was passed on in the first round despite numerous scouting reports detailing that his knee had been cleared by a number of teams. Tomorrow is Day 2 of the NFL Draft and Jack will receive another opportunity at being selected by a team.
Myles Jack‘s knee proved to be a bigger issue for teams than many thought it would and he fell out of the first round. The linebacker sat in the green room in Chicago looking very somber as pick after pick was selected ahead of him.
The only small relief he may have felt was when his teammate Kenny Clark was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the 27th overall pick.
Jack was passed on by teams who are worried he will require microfracture surgery before the end of his first contract. Once thought to be a medical marvel, microfracture surgery has proven to be almost more detrimental to players than the injury themselves as they struggle to return to form and often take years before they can play at the same level.
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The idea that Jack may have to have surgery which will require him to miss months if not a year of practice time has obviously turned off 31 teams to his selection in round 1 but the reward he could potentially deliver to a team was well worth a Day 1 pick.
Miami was a potential landing spot in the first round and I did believe they, of all teams, would be comfortable selecting a player with knee issues since they selected Jay Ajayi in the fifth round last year who also had a potential “degenerative knee” issue.
Players who do not offer the same type of athletic ability, game changing plays or scheme versatility were selected ahead of Jack but the second day offers a huge opportunity for him to join a team and prove that his knee will survive his NFL career. He’s the best value player on the board right now and offers the highest reward for his selection.
Next: NFL Draft: Kenny Clark is Selected By the Green Bay Packers, Goes Before Myles Jack
If he goes in the second round and only plays at a high level for three years, the apprehension was warranted. However should Jack outplay his first contract at a high level, he’s going to have the last laugh.