Is Mason Rudolph a first round NFL Draft pick in 2018
Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph projects at the top of the 2018 NFL Draft QB class, but is he might not be a first round pick.
The Oklahoma State football program has the privilege of getting rising senior quarterback Mason Rudolph back for one more season in 2017. There was speculation that he and rising senior wide receiver James Washington would declare for the 2017 NFL Draft, and leave school a year early.
Especially since this quarterback class is considered rather weak, Rudolph could have been a sneaky late first round pick. North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky is considered the unanimous no. 1 QB in this draft class. Yet, Trubisky’s 2016 stats are arguably worse than Rudolph’s. Trubisky threw for less than 4,000 yards while Rudolph threw for 4,091. Rudolph also only threw four interceptions while Trubisky threw six.
The other quarterbacks that Rudolph is likely competing against for the 2018 NFL Draft include Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and Washington State’s Luke Falk. Mayfield and Falk do not stack up with Rudolph’s size but both have more mobility. Meanwhile, Falk’s passing stats are a little bit better than Mayfield’s. Yet, Mayfield has finished in the top five for Heisman voting while Falk and Rudolph both have not.
There is still a whole other college football season to get through before we figure out who will top the 2018 NFL QB Draft class. Yet, Rudolph has to be the favorite among Mayfield and Falk. One example of a player rising immensely to the top of a draft class is Trubisky last season.
Rudolph’s development becoming a more consistent passer regarding accuracy has been impressive. He improved considerably between the 2015 and 2016 seasons. In 2015, he threw 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In 2016, he threw 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
It’s scary to think what he can do with maybe his best receiving corps yet at OK State. The Pokes possibly have the best receiving corps in the country. Couple that with Freshman All American running back Justice Hill, and Rudolph has all the weapons he needs at his disposal to be successful.
Players that could declare early for the 2018 NFL Draft QB class include USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson. All three quarterbacks would be held in high regards and could take potential stock away from Rudolph.
Darnold has a great finish with the Trojans to the 2016-17 season, including a Rose Bowl victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Rosen missed most of the 2016 season due to injury. And most obviously, Jackson is a great dual threat quarterback that won the Heisman Trophy in 2016, while leading the Cardinals to a successful season finishing in the top 25.
According to Walter Football, Rudolph is not currently projected to get drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but Washington actually is. They have Washington falling at pick no. 14 to the Los Angeles Rams.
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It will be interesting to see how successful Rudolph is and how much he has progressed from his successes in 2016, to impact his 2018 NFL Draft stock.