It's looking more and more likely that the wrist surgery former Auburn running back Tre Mason needs is nothing for him, or NFL teams interested in drafting him, to worry about.
NFL Media's Gil Brandt reported last week that NFL teams he talked to said Mason would pass a physical despite the issue, and NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that of the six teams he's talked to about Mason's injury, none said it hurts his stock.
Rapoport was the first to report that Mason would need surgery on his wrist following the draft and that it would keep him from being available for initial team activities. Mason's injury is a chronic scaphoid fracture -- a bone in his wrist has not properly healed -- and he's expected to be ready for the preseason, per Rapoport.
It was determined at an Indianapolis medical re-check for draft prospects that the bone in Mason's wrist would need to be surgically fused.
Mason, the SEC Player of the Year, has been projected as a second-day pick (Rounds 2-3). He's the No. 4 running back in NFL Media's Mike Mayock's position rankings, and Mason comes off the board in the third round (70th overall) to the Jaguars in Bucky Brooks' four-round mock draft.
He proved at Auburn that he could carry a heavy workload and still has the potential to play a big role as a rookie despite the wrist issue. If he does fall in the draft because of concerns about the wrist, he could provide great value for the team that ends his slide.
