2015 NFL Draft: Hutson Mason Scouting Report

Outside of Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, the 2015 NFL Draft doesn’t feature a lot of marquee quarterback prospects. This scouting report will profile a quarterback projected to go in the later rounds: Hutson Mason from the University of Georgia.

STRENGTHS

Hutson Mason has the height that you look for in your quarterback prospects. At the East-West Shrine Game, Mason measured in at just a hair over 6’2″, eliminating his height as a concern.

When evaluating Mason, it’s tough to get a good grasp on his projection to the next level because Georgia had one of the most dominant rush offense in the entire country. Between Todd Gurley and freshman sensation Nick Chubb, Mason didn’t need to do much for the Bulldogs’ offense.

Mason doesn’t have the best arm in the draft, but he has underrated velocity on his throws and can really fire the ball into tight spaces when he uses his legs. When he has a clean pocket, Mason shows the ability to set his feet and drive the ball downfield with touch.

Another area of strength of Mason is his accuracy on his short to intermediate throws. Mason has a quick release that allows him to beat the rush, which he rarely faced with Georgia’s dominant offensive line.

WEAKNESSES

Hutson Mason doesn’t have much experience under his belt, he only has one year of experience as a starter. Mason played the “game manager” role for the Bulldogs; don’t turn the ball over, let the running backs and defense control the game.

Mason hasn’t spearheaded a passing attack which puts a lid on his draft stock. He was a game manager in college, and that’s what is projection to the NFL is.

Mason should also look to get stronger, as a 207 pound frame will struggle to hold up to the punishment that NFL defenses bring. If he doesn’t use his legs on his throws, his balls can tend to hang in the air, allowing defensive backs more time to make a play on the ball.

The last knock against Mason is that he needs a clean pocket most of the time, he struggles when the pocket begins to collapse. He is not very elusive inside or outside of the pocket and looks like a deer in headlights when pressures. Mason did get better in this aspect as he gained more confidence throughout the season, but it doesn’t bode well for his NFL prospects.

DRAFT STOCK

Mason is a late round prospect, he should get drafted at the earliest in the 6th round. However, there is a possibility Mason goes undrafted. Mason looks like a career backup in the NFL.

PLAYER COMPARISON

Shaun Hill, Free Agent (Previously with the St. Louis Rams in 2014)