2017 NFL Draft: Sleeper Quarterbacks Who Can Crack 1st Round
By Erik Lambert
Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State)
Why he’s in the hunt:
Another 6’5″ beast with decent mobility for his size. Rudolph is a classic type in that he loves to push the ball down the field with his strong arm. In fact he may be the best long passer in this class. His accuracy on deep passes is pretty impressive. He doesn’t make a ton of bad decisions with the ball, keeping his turnovers low. Unlike others he has an advanced understanding of the position, using his eyes to manipulate coverages and going through progressions.
Why he’s not there yet:
Accuracy is a persistent concern with him. At times he can appear pinpoint with great anticipation and then it all just seems to go awry. Though he’s effective throwing deep, he’s not consistent on his trajectories, leading to passes floating on him too much. The biggest worry with him though is he shows a tendency to hear “footsteps.” In others words he starts to get happy feet in the pocket even when the pressure isn’t there to cause it. He must learn to settle himself.