Myles Jack has been the subject of much medical speculation in recent days, but is still unlikely to fall all the way to the Vikings at #23.
The draft is getting close and all sorts of shady stuff is going on as usual. One player on the receiving end of plenty of questionable speculation is UCLA linebacker Myles Jack.
Everybody knows that Myles Jack is a big-time talent who, all things being equal, should be a top-10 selection this year. Scouts rave about Jack’s pure athleticism, saying that with his speed and agility he could be a first-round pick as a running back. Experts also love his coverage skill and tackling ability. He is as close to a perfect 4-3 outside linebacker as you are ever going to see.
But everybody also knows that Myles Jack has medical red flags after a season-ending knee injury. Jack underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus and has been unable to fully participate in workouts.
What everybody doesn’t know is how severe Jack’s knee injury really is and how concerned teams should be about his future. That uncertainty is why we’re hearing so much talk about Jack’s draft stock.
And some of that uncertainty may be inspiring teams with lower picks to spread stuff around in hopes that teams above them will get skittish and let Jack fall.
A typical report is this one from Philadelphia Daily News reporter Les Bowen:
NFL source calls Myles Jack "a time bomb" whose knee could give him several good years, or not. Bone and cartilage starting to break away.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) April 18, 2016
Dane Brugler of NFL.com also reported that at least two teams with top 10 picks have told him that Jack is no longer on their board. Reports like those make fans of teams who are picking outside the top 10 sit up and take notice.
The folks over at the Atlanta Falcons’ official site picked up on this by speculating about the possibility of Jack dropping all the way to #17 where the Falcons pick. They concluded that despite all the dire reports about Jack’s health he probably still won’t fall that far.
Trying to guess how much of this reporting is legit and how much is GMs trying to torpedo Jack’s draft stock is pointless. Stuff happens this time of year, and some of it is pretty underhanded.
The bottom line is that even if Myles Jack’s knee is a concern, he’s not dropping far enough to be in play for the Vikings at #23. So you can put away those daydreams about Jack teaming up with former UCLA teammates Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks to form the most athletic linebacker trio possibly in NFL history.
Next: 5 times Jared Allen was a crazy man
Even if Jack were somehow available at #23, I think you could still make a strong case for the Vikings passing on him and addressing wide receiver. The Vikes want to be a great defensive team and a player like Jack would definitely upgrade their talent, but you can’t simply neglect the offense.
The Vikings have already put together a solid core of talent on defense and now it’s time for them to get after it on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver has to be the pick this year, regardless of who else might be available at #23. I’m not sure the Vikings shouldn’t try to trade up a few spots and make certain they get either Josh Doctson or Laquon Treadwell.
Whatever team picks up Myles Jack, probably a team picking in the top 10, will be getting a dynamic defensive playmaker. The Vikings are in greater need of a dynamic offensive playmaker.