NFL Mock Draft 2016: Pre-Scouting Combine edition

<p>Scouts are all over the place with regard to Smith’s draft position, and that divergence ties back to the fact that Smith suffered a serious knee injury during his final season in South Bend. However, Jaylon Smith was seen as a consensus top-five player in the 2016 NFL Draft prior to that ailment, and if doctors pass him with a clean bill of health by the end of the process, the Falcons would receive a significant bargain here.</p> <p>Even with the addition of Vic Beasley as a top ten pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Falcons could certainly use another edge rusher and, offensively, Atlanta could surround Matt Ryan and Julio Jones with another legitimate pass-catcher that would allow some flexibility with the future of Roddy White. Still, the biggest need for the Falcons is at the linebacker position, and it has been quite some time since Atlanta put a player of Smith’s talent on the field at that particular spot.</p> <p>Dan Quinn’s influence can already be felt on the defensive side of the ball for the Falcons, but adding a player like Smith (even if it comes after a few weeks of inactivity because of the injury) would be a home run with the 17th pick.</p>. LB. Notre Dame. Jaylon Smith. 17. player. 44