Zach Mettenberger's Updated 2014 NFL Draft Stock After Reportedly Tearing ACL

Zach draft stock took a massive hit on Tuesday night when it was revealed he had reportedly suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. 

SportsCenter's Twitter feed provided the dreary news:

Before the injury, the LSU QB was one of the toughest gunslingers in the upcoming draft to peg. Coming into the season, there wasn't much hype surrounding him as a future NFL player following an inconsistent junior year in which he completed just 7.4 yards per pass attempt. 

But Cam Cameron changed all of that. 

In Cameron's pro-style offense, Mettenberger thrived. He struggled a bit in the second half of the season, but he still completed 64.9 percent of his throws for 3,082 yards and 22 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. 

According to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, via The Times-Picayune's Jim Kleinpeter, Mettenberger's progress under Cameron pushed him up to a likely second-day pick:

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"Seeing him in a pro-style offense, seeing the improvement he's made and knowing he has that size, arm strength and quick release you can't coach, I think he's moved up from a seventh-round grade to possibly in the Day 2 range," McShay said on a conference call Tuesday.

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CBS Sports went as far to rank him as the fifth-best quarterback, giving him a "1-2" round grade, which was bound to go up with the news of Oregon's Marcus Mariota returning to school. 

Alas, with this injury, Mettenberger won't be able to participate at the Senior Bowl, combine or pro days—all crucial events that give prospects an opportunity to bolster their stock.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports gave his take on the situation:

Mettenberger will still be drafted. He has too much potential as a pocket passer not to be.

But as someone with already limited mobility who is now coming off of knee surgery and will be unable to showcase himself to scouts before draft day, he's looking at a third-day pick.