LA Rams UDFA class needs to include Mason Fine
By Larry Brake
Mason Fine should be included in the LA Rams class of Undrafted Free Agents, soon after the draft has concluded.
The LA Rams have seven players slotted to draft but also know which players are able to contribute to the team’s success in 2020. Sometimes good players slip through the draft. Mason Fine is a good player that LA needs to sign immediately after the draft unless he gets drafted.
Mason Fine plays quarterback at the University of North Texas. He stands 5-feet-11 weighing 190 pounds. Fine is not your prototypical NFL quarterback.
In college, he completed 1039 passes for 12,505 yards with 93 touchdowns. Fine played in a wide-open offense similar to the Mike Leach Air Raid offensive philosophy. Fine put up phenomenal numbers through four seasons.
He accepted an invitation to play for the West team in the East-West Shrine Bowl game. Fine completed 4 of 6 passes for 66 yards with one touchdown. His third-quarter touchdown pass tied the game at 17.
Lance Zierlein of nfl.com wrote the following about Fine:
"Very small quarterback with some dual-threat capabilities but falling well short of the special athletic prowess of the similarly sized Kyler Murray. Fine is a productive three-year starter in a wide-open offense with a feel for where to attack with the football. However, he needs to work around his lack of velocity and occasional blind spots in reading safeties. The production is terrific, but the size will be an automatic disqualifier for most teams and may push him toward a developmental league."
3 Positions where Mason Fine could help the LA Rams
First, Fine will have to change positions to play in the NFL. He would be an excellent free safety on defense. His offensive mind would be able to see pass routes develop.
Second, Fine would be very productive in a wide receiver role. He has the tenacity to become the possession receiver on third downs to move the chains. However, he might better play the slot receiver, due to his height and slower speed.
Third, Fine could cover kicks and return kicks for the special teams unit. Since he played quarterback in college, he could run the scout team offense as well as holding for field goals and extra points.
Fine is a good athlete that would help the Rams. His size works against him in most NFL scouts’ eyes as a starting quarterback. His future is probably in a different position. Signed as an undrafted free agent will be very low risk to the LA Rams. Let’s see what happens.