It appears that at least some NFL teams are prepared to make Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith the latest -- and perhaps the most expensive -- redshirt draft pick in recent league history.
Smith was one of the draft's top prospects before suffering a major left knee injury Jan. 1 in the Fiesta Bowl, tearing his ACL and LCL. He also has nerve damage and isn't expected to be ready to play until the 2017 season.
But according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, interest in Smith remains high enough that he will be drafted no later than the third round Friday night. One head coach told Schefter that it's possible Smith will be drafted by the end of Round 1.
That would be a high price to pay for a player who won't contribute in 2016 and, given the severity of the injuries, is no sure bet to return to his previous form. But the process of "redshirting" -- drafting injured players with an eye toward future seasons -- has gained steam in recent years among teams with extra draft capital.
At the moment, the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns each have 12 draft picks. (The 49ers have been at the forefront of this trend, as you'll see below.) The New England Patriots have 11, while the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos have 10 apiece.
Let's update the recent history of redshirting, in cases when high-draft choices were used, to get a sense for its hit-and-miss success rate. Given the nature of his injuries and Schefter's report, you could make an argument that Smith will be the riskiest among those on this list.
Year: 2015
Team: Bengals
Round: 1
Injury: Torn ACL
Outcome: Missed all of 2015 but has been fully cleared and will compete for the Bengals' starting right tackle job in 2016.
CB Aaron Colvin
Year: 2014
Team: Jaguars
Injury: Torn ACL
Outcome: Returned in time to play in six games his rookie season and then all 16, starting 15, in 2015.
Year: 2014
Team: 49ers
Round: 3
Injury: Torn ACL
Outcome: Sat out 2014, did not play an offensive snap last season but remains on the roster.
Year: 2013
Team: 49ers
Round: 2
Injury: Torn ACL
Outcome: Missed 2013 season and has been mostly a reserve defensive lineman since, appearing in 23 games in two seasons and starting one. He played 213 snaps last season.
RB Marcus Lattimore
Year: 2013
Team: 49ers
Round: 4
Injury: Three torn knee ligaments and dislocation
Outcome: Missed all of 2013 and returned to practice in mid-2014. He retired in November 2014 without appearing in a game.