NFL Draft: Myles Jack admits he may need microfracture surgery

Former UCLA Bruins linebacker Myles Jack is the biggest wildcard in the 2016 NFL Draft over the uncertain status of his surgically repaired knee.

There is very little mystery with the first two picks in the NFL Draft that begins Thursday night at Chicago’s Auditorium Theater where Jared Goff and Carson Wentz are projected to go 1-2.

Beyond the top picks, however, is plenty of intrigue and mystery about where the top draft prospects will soon call their home. The biggest question in this year’s draft is arguably former UCLA linebacker Myles Jack who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus last fall and questions linger about his health.

If he entered the draft without any questions about his knee, Jack would likely be a top-five pick because of his uncommon athletic ability for the linebacker position. He’s a former running back with safety skills masquerading as a linebacker. He has the potential to be a special talent if he can stay healthy.

His long-term health is what gives teams pause and it’s something Jack acknowledged to Bart Hubbuch on the eve of the draft, saying he may need to have microfracture surgery down the line

This is a very honest and forthcoming admission from Jack who has to be frustrated and somewhat concerned about his longevity. He’s also upfront about the short shelf life associated with playing in the NFL and seems to set the bar low for his career.

If a team is drafting Jack and only getting three years out of him before a potential microfracture surgery, that’s going to be hard to swallow for teams picking in the top half of the first round.

He could end up being worth the risk or he could end up out of the league in three years, which would not only be sad because he’s a tremendous talent but could also see the general manager who drafts him looking for a new job.

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