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2018 NFL Draft: Mason Rudolph trained with Andy Dalton

By Maxwell Ogden

MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 10: Mason Rudolph #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the game at Mountaineer Field on October 10, 2015 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 10: Mason Rudolph #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the game at Mountaineer Field on October 10, 2015 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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As Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph prepares for the 2018 NFL Draft, a potential mentor has surfaced: Cincinnati Bengals star Andy Dalton.

One of the most divisive figures in the 2018 NFL Draft is Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph. He’s grown on a number of scouts and evaluators, but the reality remains that he’s a spread offense quarterback whose style of play may not translate to the next level.

As Rudolph prepares for the incomparable transition from the collegiate level to the NFL, however, he’s receiving advice from an established individual who faced a similar uphill battle.

Rudolph produced one of the most productive collegiate careers in recent Division I history. Air Raid quarterbacks are still enigmatic figures, however, and some are questioning if Rudolph can play from under center or go through multiple progressions.

In an article published on NFL.com’s Path to the Draft, Rudolph revealed that he received the opportunity to train with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.

"“It was a cool opportunity to throw with a guy like that and see how you stack up and also grab a tidbit of information, mechanics advice here and there. It was the first time I’ve met Andy. He was really down to earth, and he’s a really hard worker in the offseason,” Rudolph said."

Rudolph continued, explaining that Dalton went through the route tree with the incoming rookie and explained what to expect once he’s drafted.

"“We went through the route tree, and he was talking about his routine in-season and how he prepares for games. He mentioned some things to expect going forward into rookie minicamp, OTAs, a little glimpse of what to expect right after I am drafted,” Rudolph said."

There’s very little that can help an incoming rookie quite as much the perspective provided by a player who has been in their shoes before.

Coming out of college, Dalton was viewed as a somewhat comparable player to Rudolph. He ran a spread offense for the TCU Horned Frogs, which led many to question if he could make the transition to a pro style offense in the NFL.

Dalton is now a three-time Pro Bowler who has seven seasons of starting experience and four postseason appearances on his resume.

During that time, Dalton has thrown for 25,534 yards and 167 touchdowns to 93 interceptions, including 68 touchdowns to 27 interceptions over the past three seasons.

If Rudolph manages to develop into a player of Dalton’s caliber, then he’ll have no trouble starting in the NFL. There’s no telling when or where he’ll be drafted to, but the working theory is that he’ll have a chance to develop in a situation that will permit him the opportunity to grow into a franchise player.

With veterans like Dalton helping Rudolph prepare for the grueling life and schedule of an NFL player, he could make a successful leap to the next level.

Must Read: Baker Mayfield makes his case for the No. 1 pick

The question is: Will Mason Rudolph make the type of improvements that helped Andy Dalton shake the NFL Draft stigma of a spread offense quarterback?

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