2018 NFL Mock Draft: New York Jets 3-round mock 3.0
By Sean Dyer
30. Scouting Report. Mason Rudolph. 2. player. Pick Analysis. QB. Oklahoma State
As great as Kirk Cousins would look in green, he’s not on the Jets yet. Plus, signing Cousins won’t be that easy, as Alan Schechter explains.
The possibility of signing Cousins keeps me away from drafting a quarterback at No. 6 but Mason Rudolph is too hard to pass up at No. 37.
Rudolph has great size at 6’5, 230 lb. He’s tough, can tuck it and run, and doesn’t mind lowering his shoulder to get a first down. He also stands tall in the pocket under pressure.
Rudolph has good arm talent and throws a fantastic deep ball. He’s been one of the most productive college passers and with more consistent accuracy, he would be considered a first-round pick.
George Stockburger of NFL Mocks believes Rudolph has the makings of a starting caliber NFL quarterback:
"He’s athletic enough to avoid pass rushers and despite being under pressure he’ll step up in the pocket with his eyes always downfield. Rudolph will throw with touch and consistently showed the ability to drop the ball in the bucket."
Perhaps the biggest knock on Rudolph is that he played his college ball in the Big 12. Defense is more or less optional in the Big 12 and past successful quarterbacks from the conference have faceplanted in the NFL.
Jets fans know about Bryce Petty and Geno Smith. Robert Griffin III and Brandon Weeden are also in this unfortunate club. However, NFL evaluators see Baker Mayfield as a potential franchise quarterback after a collegiate career in the Big 12, so perhaps he and Rudolph can break the trend.
The Jets could choose to pair Rudolph with a veteran quarterback acquisition this offseason. If they can’t sign Cousins, they could sign Sam Bradford to a short-term deal and have Rudolph learn from him until he’s ready to start. The Philadelphia Eagles did this in 2016 with Bradford and Carson Wentz and the Chicago Bears did this in 2017 with Mike Glennon and Mitchell Trubisky.
Finding a franchise quarterback has historically been either in free agency or the draft. In the modern NFL, however, it could be both. The more quarterbacks you acquire, the better chance you have of one being a keeper.