Denver Broncos Draft Countdown: Making the Case for LB Jaylon Smith

The Denver Broncos are putting the final touches on their draft board with the 2016 NFL draft less than one month away. At the end of April in Chicago, NFL teams will do their best to find impact players who could shine at the next level.

With a few weeks in April ahead of us, many mock drafts around the Web have the Broncos taking a quarterback to fill their biggest need on the team. These mocks could quickly change if (when?) the Broncos trade with the San Francisco 49ers for Colin Kaepernick. General manager John Elway may indeed take a passer at some point in the draft, but with the team’s first pick, he could choose to pick from a talent-rich linebacker class.

The player who may be best suited for replacing Danny Trevathan is Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. Even though his status for the start of the 2016 season is up in the air due to a major knee injury suffered in his final game with the Fighting Irish, Smith may have All-Pro upside that is too good to pass up.

One of the most interesting mock drafts comes from Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, and he’s got the Broncos taking Smith with the 31st overall pick.

In this article, we’ll make the case for Smith to be the Broncos’ top choice in the 2016 NFL draft.

College Career

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Over the last two years, Smith was one of the most productive defenders for the Fighting Irish defense. During that time, he was able to compile 133 solo tackles and 18 tackles for loss. Add in his assisted tackles, and Smith went over 100 total tackles (111, 114) each of the last two seasons. A productive leader, Smith knows how to get the best out of his natural ability.

In his final game with Notre Dame, Smith suffered a gruesome knee injury that has his football career in question. In the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, Smith tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Smith expressed confidence about his eventual return to full strength: “[I’ll return] as soon as possible. I can’t tell when I’ll be back, but I’ll be back 100 percent.”

Knee injuries aren’t quite as devastating as they used to be, and players are able to come back quicker than ever before. However, this is a much more severe injury, and possible nerve damage becomes the larger concern.

Smith said there was no nerve damage with this injury.

“No, the nerve wasn’t stretched at all," Smith said. "It’s just the healing game. That’s all. It’s a process. I’ll be back 100 percent. We just don’t know when.”

He’s likely drawn a red flag from many teams due to the severity of this knee injury. In fact, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported that three teams have taken Smith off their boards for the draft. Smith is an impressive player, but he’ll need to check out medically before the Broncos (or any team) use a premium pick on him.

Skill Set

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Smith has the ability to play every linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense. He’s got the instincts to find the play quickly, and he’s got the athleticism to get there in a hurry. Smith is a three-down player who can shine in multiple ways.

Measuring in at 6’3”, 240 pounds, Smith has the size to work as a forceful run-stopper. He does a good job of diagnosing plays as they unfold in front of him, and Smith has no problem getting his hands dirty between the tackles. He’s a solid wrap-up tackler who doesn’t let an opponent in his grasp get away.

Smith has high football intelligence and can call out defensive adjustments for his teammates. In today’s pass-happy league, Smith should have no problem covering athletic "move" tight ends on shorter routes or down the seam.

In addition to his run-stuffing and coverage ability, a team can also ask Smith to rush the passer. He only had 4.5 sacks as a collegian, but Smith has the length and fluid athleticism to make up the distance to a quarterback quickly. Pass rushing is an untapped aspect of Smith’s game.

Smith feels his all-around game is his biggest strength as a linebacker.

“I can pass-rush, I can cover, I can stuff and check consistently," Smith said. "It’s just being able to be in the right spot at the right time. That’s something I challenge myself on each and every play.”

The Competition

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The Broncos have some interesting linebackers already on the roster ready to take over for Trevathan. They’ve found these guys in various ways (waivers, draft, college free agency), and the Broncos have compiled a nice collection of players with various skill sets.

Todd Davis may be the first to get a chance at Trevathan’s old spot. Picked up after the New Orleans Saints waived him multiple times in 2014, Davis shows natural violence when arriving at the ball-carrier. He’s more of a physical presence than Trevathan, and Davis can intimidate on the field with the way he quickly and forcefully brings a player down. While he’s more of a thumper, Davis is not as athletic—thus as good in coverage—as Trevathan. There’s a chance Davis could play strong-side inside linebacker if the team wants to move Brandon Marshall over to the weak side.

After his college career with the Oklahoma Sooners, Corey Nelson was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. Nelson came into the league after showing well as a special teams player, but he’s an intriguing potential starter at linebacker because of his upside as a pass-rusher. Nelson has good burst off the line of scrimmage, and he can quickly maneuver his feet to get around blockers on his way to the quarterback. While his instincts might not be as sharp as Davis', Nelson has the natural athleticism to work well in coverage.

Perhaps the most interesting player on the roster with the potential to replace Trevathan is second-year pro Zaire Anderson. Last year after the draft, the Broncos were able to add Anderson as a college free agent. He’s a little light at 220 pounds, and Anderson can be moved out of the way if an offensive lineman gets him in his grasp. Anderson has the quickness and range to shine in coverage, and he was known as a tackling machine during his time in college at Nebraska. As a senior for the Cornhuskers, Anderson led the team with 103 total tackles. His nose for the ball and his ability to scrape and flow to the play make him a player to watch in camp.

Summary

Based on their drafting history, the Broncos won’t shy away from a player who enters the season with question marks about his health.

Smith understands how NFL teams can be leery with this type of injury, which may cost him part or all of the 2016 season, but he’s looking at the big picture.

“It’s a long-term decision for whoever drafts me," Smith said. "I’m a guy who will be around for a while playing at an elite level. An impact player. ... It’s great watching a guy like Todd Gurley do it last year and come back almost midseason and perform. It’s very encouraging.”

The Broncos have the depth on defense to wait on a pick like Smith. Recent reports seem positive about his recovery, and other teams' shyness could pay off for the Broncos if the talented linebacker falls to the end of the first round. Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports reported that Smith is able to leg-press over 600 pounds.

The Broncos defense is chock-full of talent, and adding Smith could potentially give defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and company another elite-level player to scheme with in 2016.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.