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2016 NFL Draft: 5 Risky Picks for the 49ers

By Trevor Irvine

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the crowd in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the crowd in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jaylon Smith — Linebacker (University of Notre Dame)

There is no denying the talent of Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith.

He was widely considered the best linebacker prospect in the upcoming draft until the fateful Fiesta Bowl game where he tore his anterior cruciate and lateral cruciate ligaments in his knee. More importantly, he also suffered nerve damage in the knee, according to ESPN:

"But now, after torn knee ligaments and nerve damage, the surest thing has become the biggest mystery. Draft prognosticators have Smith all over the map, from a mid-round pick to not drafted at all… The torn ACL and LCL do not concern NFL decision-makers. But the nerve damage terrifies them. Smith stretched his peroneal nerve, which left him with a foot drop. That means he currently cannot pick up his left foot on his own. This should not have been a stunning revelation at this point in his rehab, but when Smith had his knee examined during medical rechecks earlier this month in Indianapolis, gloom-and-doom headlines quickly spread on the internet."

Baalke has not shied away in the past from picking injured players, in effect “redshirting” them the first year and allowing for the second year for the player to hit the field. However, this was a luxury when the 49ers were loaded with talent. This team currently struggles to fill out a 53 man roster with enough talent to win.

No one knows if Smith’s nerve damage in his knee will eventually heal, but he is the ultimate riskiest pick in this draft. He will likely not be picked until the fourth round at the earliest. If he does regain full health, having him on your team would be a steal. But do the 49ers really want another Marcus Lattimore — the Niners running back whose recovery forced early retirement before he ever saw NFL action?

We will know how Baalke feels about his job security if Smith is still available around the fourth round and he pulls the trigger on him. Talk about rolling the dice on your future…

Next: Noah Spence