Pro Football Focus mocks Mason Rudolph to the Cleveland Browns

If you’re an Oklahoma State fan, chances are you’re probably tired of seeing the Cleveland Browns taking chances on some of your favorite Cowboys. Guys like Brandon Weeden and Justin Gilbert were both taken by the Browns in recent years — neither of which are on the current roster anymore.

With the Browns being the worst team in the NFL again this year, the chances that they earn the No. 1 pick this season are quite high. And despite what you may think, Pro Football Focus thinks they will target a defensive lineman — Alabama’s Jonathan Allen — at No. 1 overall.

But just because they may not nab a quarterback at the top of the draft, doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking quarterback. The Browns came into the season with Robert Griffin III as their starter, but quickly lost him for the season due to injury. Guys like Cody Kessler and Josh McCown have taken turns as the starter in Cleveland throughout the year, but it’s more than clear neither appear to be the long-term option.

That’s where Cleveland wants to try and break OSU fans hearts.

In Pro Football Focus’ mock draft, the experts have the Browns taking – you guessed it — Mason Rudolph at No. 21 overall.

From PFF:

Here’s where the draft takes a turn. In a quarterback class that lacks inspiration, Rudolph continues to improve an already-impressive skillset. He has the nation’s No. 2 passing grade at 88.6 and he throws the ball outside the numbers with better precision than any quarterback in the country. He deep outs and comebacks are often right on a receiver’s hands, showing the type of accuracy needed for the next level. Rudolph handles pressure well and while he’ll flutter his deep ball at times, he also flashes the downfield accuracy to create big plays in the passing game. Rudolph may just sneak up as a first-round candidate if he comes out this season.

That certainly would be a turn. ESPN’s draft expert Mel Kiper currently has Rudolph as the No. 10 QB in the 2017 draft, which would almost certainly indicate that he would return for his senior year.

As for head coach Mike Gundy’s opinion? He seems to lean towards Rudolph not quite being ready just yet.

“We haven’t had very many players here I felt like were ready to enter that level of football as juniors,” Gundy said. “That’s including Weeden and Blackmon and Russell Okung. (Three first-rounders). Even though they were great players, I didn’t feel like they were ready for what that level can put out there or put in front of those guys. That’s my opinion.”

My opinion? Rudolph could easily punch his ticket to the NFL and probably earn himself a late first-round draft grade this year. But the way NFL rookie salaries are structed, Rudolph could boost his stock with a big senior year and literally make himself millions.

According to forbes.com, the No. 1 pick in 2016 Jared Goff is set to earn roughly $28 million over the life of his rookie contract, with an added $18.5 million signing bonus.

For comparisons sake, Ole Miss offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, who was taken No. 13 overall, will make an estimated $12.4 million during his rookie contract. The difference between going mid-to-late and returning to be a potential top pick could be the difference between Mason foregoing his senior year and OSU getting one last ride from the big fella from Rock Hill, South Carolina. It’s a choice he’ll have to make that won’t be easy, but the descripancy between mid-to-late round consideration and top of the board, coupled with a potential to be taking his talents to the Browns next season, makes me think we may have one final go-round with him next year.