Pittsburgh hopes to strike 3rd round gold w/ Mason Rudolph

With an early 3rd round selection in the 2018 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers took QB Mason Rudolph. Rudolph provides competition in the…

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Pittsburgh hopes to strike 3rd round gold w/ Mason Rudolph

Rudolph shows NFL quality reads

With an early 3rd round selection in the 2018 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers took QB Mason Rudolph. Rudolph provides competition in the QB room and offers a prospective future starter. While the situation is outstanding and Rudolph demonstrated pro-ready mental skills, his physical attributes (arm strength & athletic ability) may hold him back from ever being more than a quality backup spot starter in the league.

QB Mason Rudolph

• Size: 6’5” / 235
• Draft Selection: #76 (2018)
• Depth Chart: QB3 (competing w/ Landry Jones & Joshua Dobbs to backup Big Ben)
• ’18 Outlook: QB3+ (QB2+ if ascends to starting role)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rudolph2mason
• NFL Comparison: Poor man’s Sam Bradford

Outlook: Selected with the 76th pick in the early 3rd round, the Pittsburgh Steelers are making an investment at a critical position knowing that Ben Roethlisberger is year to year at this point in his career. With a stable organization, strong supporting cast and time to sit and learn, Rudolph couldn’t have landed in a better situation. History says Rudolph has a 50%+ chance to eventually get the starting job, and the probability is low (18%) that he sticks as a multi-year starting quarterback.

Opportunity: The Steelers are top loaded, with the leagues top receiver and receiving tailback, and solid complementary receivers for one of the best skill position groups in the NFL. Antonio Brown (WR1), Le’Veon Bell (RB2), Juju Smith-Schuster (WR17), James Washington (WR78) & Vance McDonald (TE17) are five deep.

Long-term: Rudolph checks many of the boxes on the proverbial chart of potential success. He’s started 40 games at a power 5 school, compiled outstanding statistics and team success. Athletically he’s below average but he has prototype size and demonstrated an ability to read defenses, make good decisions and win games. If Pittsburgh can continue to draft and develop a top-tier supporting cast, Rudolph gets time to learn and fine tunes his decision-making ability, he could buck the odds of 3rd round quarterback success.