New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees is not getting any younger, so the Saints are reportedly looking to potentially draft his heir apparent in the 2018 NFL Draft. Names like Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson have consistently been thrown around, but let’s look at another potential QB-of-the-future: Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph.

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• Age: 22 years old
• Height: 6’5
• Weight: 235 lbs
• Arms: 32 3/8”
• Hands: 9 1/8”
• 40 yard: 4.9 sec
• Vertical: 26”

Analysis:

(per NFL.com)

Pocket quarterback with good size who has shown consistent improvement as a passer. Rudolph is more of a downfield, play-action passer than a quarterback who can win with precision and arm strength. He’s a capable field reader who has the ability to operate with timing which will be important since his arm can be dull at times. Rudolph could be an early backup with the potential of becoming an average to below average starter in the league.

Highlights:

Bottom line:

(per Pro Football Focus draft guide)

Rudolph did a fantastic job running Oklahoma State’s offense, but there are plenty of question marks given his NFL-caliber receivers and opposing Big 12 defenses. However, he’s showed the ability to zip the ball outside the numbers while continuing to improve his work in the middle of the field. He could stand to throw a cleaner ball on a down-to-down basis, but Rudolph’s on-field production is too difficult to ignore and he should be in the first-round mix.