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Pittsburgh Steelers Meet the Pick: QB Mason Rudolph

By Brandon Kring

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys throws a pass against the Mississippi Rebels during the second quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys throws a pass against the Mississippi Rebels during the second quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Steelers utilized the third rounder they received from Oakland for Martavis Bryant in a great way. They traded their 79th overall and their early seventh rounder to get in position to draft Mason Rudolph.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a trade up in the third round to draft a player they liked a lot all pre-draft process. The team selected Mason Rudolph with the 76th overall pick, utilizing the pick we mentioned in the James Washington article.

Mason Rudolph had an up and down ride to the draft. His name was mentioned as a first round target as well as clear to the third round, his eventual final landing spot.

Rudolph had a great career at Oklahoma State. He put up 13,618 yards, 97 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. His career completion percentage was 63.2 but each year since becoming the starter in 2015, it increased gradually.

Rudolph had a great game at Heinz Field in his 2017 season against the Pitt Panthers. He lit up the Panthers throwing for 497 yards and five touchdowns in the game surely grabbing the attention of the Steelers brass.

Rudolph is a big bodied quarterback with a great deep ball and above average arm strength. His ability to escape the pocket showed in his tape and he can create plays much like current Steelers QB, and future hall of famer, Ben Roethlisberger.

His steady improvement in college bodes well for him as it shows he is able to elevate his game each year. He plays a lot like Ben and would do well for himself to soak in everything from the future HOFer.

Rudolph’s favorite target in college, James Washington, was drafted in the second round at 60th overall. Having a teammate there to grow and learn with him will help ease him into the NFL world.

With Joshua Dobbs and Landry Jones still on the current roster, things will get intense in training camp this season. Big Ben is obviously the starter and they will not carry four quarterbacks on the 53 man team.

This likely means the Steelers will hold a three-way battle for two spots. Landry Jones has the upper hand as backup but if Rudolph and Dobbs play well in the preseason, he could be out.

Dobbs, a fourth round selection last year, is entering his second year as a Steeler. He spent the 2017 season inactive a majority of the time.

Next: Best/Worst case scenario for each draft pick

Rudolph can win a backup spot and will remain on the roster in 2018. Look for Dobbs and Jones battling to see who the number two QB is.

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