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NFL Draft rumors: Chad Kelly out for three months

By Brad Berreman

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) runs the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) runs the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chad Kelly’s draft stock was already down, and now wrist surgery will sideline him until training camp.

Based on his junior season at Ole Miss, with an SEC-leading 4,042 passing yards and 31 touchdowns through the air, even with some past off-field concerns, Chad Kelly could be a first-round pick. His senior season was pretty good, with 2,758 passing yards and 19 touchdowns over nine games, but a torn ACL in November during a non-conference game against Georgia Southern hurt Kelly’s draft profile.

Kelly was not invited to the NFL Combine, due to his past trouble off the field, but he was cleared to showcase himself for teams at Ole Miss’ Pro Day. Kelly’s throwing session on April 3 wound up being cut short though, when he aggravated a wrist injury suffered during training. Kelly had tentatively re-scheduled his workout for April 22, but that is not going to happen now.

Pelissero clarified that Kelly’s wrist surgery was performed at the clinic noted doctor James Andrews calls home, not by Andrews himself, but a full recovery in time for training camp is expected.

Kelly reportedly had a visit with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to undergoing surgery, which is his only known visit to this point. Teams could still bring Kelly in over the next couple weeks, but being unable to work out stands to limit those meetings even more than they already were.

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Once a likely late-round flier that could pay off nicely with maturity and full health, Kelly is now firmly in undrafted territory. If that winds up happening, it will be worth watching where he lands as an undrafted free agent.

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