Cowboys beat Saints: 5 players whose stock is soaring

Jaylon Smith, LB

When the Dallas Cowboys selected Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith early in the second round of the now legendary 2016 NFL Draft, the best word to describe the reaction would be “shock”. Smith had suffered a devastating knee injury that left the once top-five level prospect with severe nerve damage and a potentially career-threatening injury.

After spending his entire rookie season rehabbing, Smith made his debut in 2017. Wearing a brace for drop foot as a result of his unhealed nerve damage, the young defender willed himself onto the field. Although his straight-line speed had returned, his injury limited him sideline-to-sideline. Combined with being a tick late in reading plays, Smith’s return was impressive but also limited.

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In 2018, onlookers have witnessed a whole new player in Jaylon Smith. Now playing without the brace, and fully confident in his repaired knee, Smith appears to be back to the player he was at Notre Dame … maybe even better.

And the 23-year old put it all together Thursday night. Along with exciting rookie Leighton Vander Esch, Smith continues to be a punishing force that can gobbled up ground in a hurry. His critical tackle of Saints running back Alvin Kamara near the goal-line in the second quarter was a pivotal play in the game. That stop lead to a fourth-and-one attempt by New Orleans that was stuffed for a turnover on downs by Dallas’ defense.

Smith ended the night with nine total tackles. He’s got 87 tackles on the season along with an impressive 4.0 sacks. Ladies and gentleman, Jaylon Smith has arrived.