Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Stanford RB Bryce Love‘s knee is still “very stiff” after suffering a season-ending ACL tear last year and teams still have some concerns about it and whether he’ll regain his movement and explosiveness.
“That creates some concern for teams about whether or not Love is going to regain his prior movement — and in terms of his explosiveness — and even if he does, how long will it take him to get back to 100 percent,” Pelissero said.
Pelissero says this doesn’t mean Love is undraftable, but there is specific condition regarding stiffness around the ACL. Pelissero says it’s possible teams can treat this issue including another surgery on his knee.
“There is a specific condition that people have seen before, there is medical literature on it, of that stiffness around the ACL,” Pelissero added. “There are different ways you can treat it, potentially another surgery, it would be up to whatever team drafts Bryce Love to figure out what the procedure is going forward to make sure that he’s on track.”
Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport reports that Dr. James Andrews sent a letter to teams expressing confidence in Love’s rehab. However, Rapoport admits it remains to be seen whether they will convince teams that Love is worth taking in the fourth or fifth round.
Rapoport expects Love to ultimately be a Day-three selection next week.
Love, 5-10, 202lb, could have entered the 2018 NFL draft, but elected to return for his senior year at Stanford and unfortunately suffered a torn ACL late into the season.
Lance Zierlein compares Love to Dion Lewis.
During his fours years at Stanford, Love has rushed for 3,865 yards on 569 carries (6.8 YPC) to go along with 49 receptions for 465 yards receiving and 32 total touchdowns over the course of 49 games.
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