Mason Rudolph Is a Top 10 QB Prospect for the 2017 NFL Draft

Carson Cunningham and I have been talking about this for months. We could be entering, gulp, Mason Rudolph’s last season in Stillwater. How is that possible? It feels like it just began! Rudolph is certainly on the fringe of being a high enough prospect to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. Todd McShay released his top 10 list on Monday.

College football is almost upon us, which means the 2017 NFL draft will be here before you know it. Those of us at Scouts Inc. — Kevin Weidl, Steve Muench and I — spent the summer scouring tape and ranking the top players at each position from a draft perspective. Below is our preseason evaluation of the best quarterbacks in the 2017 draft.

Here’s a look at the top eight on that list.

1. Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
2. Brad Kaaya (The U)
3. C.J. Beathard (Iowa)
4. Luke Falk (WSU)
5. Chad Kelly (Ole Miss)
6. Mitch Leidner (Minnesota)
7. Baker Mayfield (OU)
8. Mason Rudolph (OSU)

I have a hard time believing that NFL teams see Baker Mayfield as a better NFL prospect than Mason Rudolph. Is he a better college QB? Sure (maybe). But a better pro one? In that 5’10 frame? Mehhh. CBS, by the way, has Rudolph as the No. 8-ranked QB for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Here’s what McShay writes about Rudolph.

A true junior, Rudolph has started just 15 career games, so his grade could change drastically. He has the frame and mental make-up that you look for, but his below average arm strength is concerning. The ball hangs in the air too long, and he throws a lot of floaters. A promising sign: Rudolph has led six second-half, come-from-behind victories in his career.

On those floaters — Mike Gundy said recently that wasn’t an issue anymore. It remains to be seen I suppose. I was curious about past McShay lists. Is he just tossing names out there because it’s August and nobody really cares right now, or is this a real thing? Of his top 10 QBs listed last year, nine got drafted (albeit only two underclassmen), and No. 8 (Carson Wentz) was the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Gulp.

Hat tip to Zach Wilerson