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2018 NFL Draft quarterback rankings: Mason Rudolph rising

By Sayre Bedinger

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 19: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys carries the ball to score a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 19: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys carries the ball to score a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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2018 NFL Draft: The quarterback class for the 2018 NFL Draft has the potential to be great. Mason Rudolph is showing out as the year progresses…

The 2018 NFL Draft could go down as one of the best in terms of pure talent at the quarterback position in recent history, particularly if everyone who is eligible declares. As we continue to follow each player’s performance week-to-week, one player in particular (Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph) is on the rise.

Let’s take a look at the top quarterbacks eligible for the 2018 NFL Draft, how they would rank right now, and how they performed in their most recent games, starting with Rudolph.

Mason Rudolph has been excellent so far this season, a surprise to absolutely no one.

Rudolph has set the bar high in his time at Oklahoma State, and is living up to the hype in his final season on campus.

Against Texas Tech, he was great, completing 27-of-38 pass attempts with 426 total yards of offense and five touchdowns. His first touchdown pass is particularly impressive, given there are some concerns about the zip Rudolph puts on his throws.

Yes, Rudolph plays in a pass-happy, friendly offense for quarterbacks. Yes, he has great talent around him. What we’re not taking into account with this guy, a lot of times, is the fact that he’s played 34 collegiate games and counting. He has a ton of experience against a ton of different defensive looks, and he continues to pick teams apart.

Rudolph has a great sense of rhythm and timing within the offense he’s running, and he absolutely has the arm talent to spread the ball to any area of the field, and with accuracy.

In this game against Texas Tech, he throws an inexcusable pick-six in the red zone. You absolutely have to be smarter with the ball, but how does Rudolph respond?

First, he scrambles for two yards with nothing there downfield. Then, he hits a perfect throw to the sideline for a first down. After that, he makes a great pass over the middle of the field on 3rd-and-6. He drives the Oklahoma State offense down right back into the red zone, showing no lack of confidence after the pick.

Now, Oklahoma State didn’t score on that drive that ended inside the Texas Tech 10-yard line, but it shows the kind of player Rudolph is after making a mistake. As a quarterback, you have to forget those kinds of things very quickly.

Rudolph does as good a job of any quarterback in this class at climbing the pocket, and scanning the field for an open receiver.

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