The 2018 NFL Draft is flush with compelling talent at the quarterback position. Where does former Oklahoma State Cowboys star Mason Rudolph fit?
The 2018 NFL Draft will test the patience of general managers who need improved quarterback play. The likes of Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen are all projected top-10 draft picks, with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield possessing that same potential.
The fact that four quarterbacks are widely believed to be first-round locks is compelling, but there’s a fifth player who’s riding close behind: Mason Rudolph.
The working theory around the NBA is that four teams in the top 10 will be in the market for a quarterback. Those teams are the Cleveland Browns at Nos. 1 and 4, the New York Giants at No. 2, the Denver Broncos at No. 5, and the New York Jets at No. 6.
Also believed to be interested in a quarterback are the Miami Dolphins at No. 11, the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 12, the Arizona Cardinals at No. 15, and the Buffalo Bills at No. 21 and No. 22.
One could also peg the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 29 and the Minnesota Vikings at No. 30 as viable options for a quarterback.
Knowing that to be true, the opportunity exists for Rudolph to join the four most coveted quarterbacks in this class. He established himself as one of the most productive players in the country, and has prototypical physical measurements.
The question is: Where would Mason Rudolph fit best in the 2018 NFL Draft?
5. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are unlikely to select Mason Rudolph at No. 5 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Denver has a second-round draft pick, however, and would be one of the best possible fits for the former Oklahoma State Cowboys star.
Denver has elite talent on defense, dynamic playmakers at wide receiver, and a top-five draft pick to bring another star to the roster in 2018.
Rudolph is a pure pocket passer who can pick a team apart when he has a solid pocket. Guard Ron Leary is solid in pass protection, Matt Paradis is a quality center, and tackle Garrett Boles had a better rookie season than he’s received credit for.
If Denver utilizes the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft to find another offensive lineman—Quenton Nelson would be worth the investment—they could create quite the foundation.
When Rudolph has time in the pocket, he can be the big-body player who gets the ball to Denver’s prolific playmakers. He threw for upwards of 4,000 yards in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons, combining for 65 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions during that time.
Some question if Rudolph is a system quarterback, but if Denver keeps either Emmanuel Sanders or Demaryius Thomas—or preferably, both—he’d fit well with the Broncos.
4. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals lost head coach Bruce Arians this offseason when the quarterback guru announced his retirement. Arizona also lost starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who announced his own retirement after 14 memorable seasons.
Arizona still has an all-time wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald, however, as well as one of the best defensive units in the NFL.
The Cardinals have an atrocious offensive line, but David Johnson may be the best running back in the NFL when healthy. Fitzgerald is still a perennial threat to go for 1,000 yards, which rounds what could be an elite offense into form if Arizona acquires offensive linemen in the draft and free agency.
Perhaps most important of all: The Cardinals ranked No. 6 in total defense during the 2017 season, and should be even better in 2018.
With Mason Rudolph under center, Arizona would have a chance to realize both its short-term and long-term potential. It would have a player who can put the ball where it needs to be, as well as a developable talent who has proven willing to commit to the system.
Arizona has scattered talent, but the right quarterback could bring this team together and create a winning culture for a team with significant upside.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars may not be in the market for a quarterback after the emergence of Blake Bortles in the playoffs. Bortles is still regarded as a player who isn’t quite established, however, which means Jacksonville could indeed look Mason Rudolph’s way.
Considering the Jaguars are already a championship contender, Rudolph would have a chance to join a team that’s ready for him to enter.
Jacksonville finished the 2017 regular season ranked No. 2 in the NFL in both yards and points allowed. It has an elite pass rush, an exceptional secondary, and an outstanding linebacker corps that rounds this dominant unit into form.
The Jaguars also have significant postseason experience that includes a trip to the AFC Championship Game—reason enough to be intrigued.
It’s also worth noting that Jacksonville has an explosive running back in Leonard Fournette. Fournette may not be a superstar just yet, but he’s the type of talent who could make life significantly easier for a rookie quarterback.
Rudolph needs to improve his accuracy when working outside the pocket, but if Jacksonville bolsters its offensive line, he could be a culture-changing presence.
2. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings were a game away from making it to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1976. Minnesota achieved that success with a revolving door of quarterbacks, including pending free agents Sam Bradford and Case Keenum.
Teddy Bridgewater may still be the answer for the Vikings, but if it’s determined that he isn’t, Mason Rudolph could be an excellent long-term fit.
The Vikings boast the best defense in the NFL, as evidenced by their No. 1 rankings in both points and yards allowed per game. It should sustain that success moving forward, as Mike Zimmer is one of the best coaches in the league today.
Playing with an elite defense would make the game significantly easier for Randolph to manage, and having strong offensive weapons would be the same.
Dalvin Cook looked like a star before the injury, and should return to form at running back in 2017. In the receiving corps, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen balance explosive playmaking with a sense of reliability, and Kyle Rudolph is a trustworthy and productive tight end.
Randolph may take time to develop into the player whom Minnesota wants him to be, but he has the prototypical size and throwing ability to be the guy.
1. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have an elite running back and a defense that carried the team to nine wins in 2017. Tyrod Taylor is a dynamic playmaker, but with inconsistency as a passer, Buffalo still needs a quarterback who can move the ball through the air.
Whether Rudolph starts in 2018 or spends a season behind Taylor, the Bills have a chance to find the potential quarterback of the future at either No. 21 or No. 22 overall.
Rudolph is nowhere near the athlete that Taylor is, but his 10 rushing touchdowns in 2017 prove that he can make plays with his legs. Far more important is the fact that he has a big arm and the ability to fit throws between the linebackers and safeties.
That intermediate presence in the passing game has been missing from Buffalo for far too long, and is exactly why Rudolph makes sense.
Rudolph’s ability to go through his progressions has been questioned due to his status as a system quarterback. Buffalo would have an open mind and a moldable talent, however, and can add receiving talent in free agency and the NFL Draft.
Thus, while Buffalo may not be the perfect fit, it would allow Rudolph an opportunity to develop behind a starter and fill a longstanding void.
Must Read: The biggest steals of the 2017 NFL Draft
The question is: Which franchise will select Mason Rudolph on the weekend of the 2018 NFL Draft?