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Cowboys make pick for the future, taking Jaylon Smith at No. 34

Is Jerry Jones back in charge of his team's draft board? It appears he might be.

The Dallas Cowboys took Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 overall in Thursday's first round, a luxury pick especially when Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who could immediately help a weak secondary, was there for the taking.

Then on Friday night, with his team picking early in the second round, Jones and the Cowboys selected a player who won't even be in uniform in 2016, and it's unknown if he'll be available in 2017.

Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith was the team's pick at No. 34; Smith suffered a devastating injury on New Year's Day in the Fiesta Bowl, tearing his ACL and MCL and reportedly suffering damage to his peroneal nerve as well, which leads to a condition known as "drop foot". Not all players return from "drop foot."

Smith weighed in at 223 pounds at the combine. That was down 20 pounds since his surgery, according to NFL Network's Mike Mayock. Mayock also said that Smith could be a Luke Kuechly-type impact player at his best.

While it remains to be seen if Smith will return to his pre-injury level of play, his path will be managed by a very familiar face: Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys' team physician, performed Smith's surgery in January, and has been overseeing his recovery ever since.

Smith, at a bowling alley with family and friends in his hometown of Ft. Wayne, Ind., was clearly emotional as he was on the phone with Dallas brass, and broke down as he embraced a woman we assume is his mother.