Real Steel
Rudolph lands in Pitt behind Big Ben
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Steelers may have found a future replacement for Ben Roethlisberger, and a familiar target to pair with him.
Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph is Pittsburgh-bound after the Steelers drafted him with the 12th pick of the third round (76th overall) Friday night. He was the first signal caller to come off the board after five were taken in the first round Thursday night.
“It will stick with me every minute, every hour until the day I die,” Rudolph said, according to ESPN, of not being included in the top tier of quarterbacks.
Rudolph’s selection came 16 picks after the Steelers nabbed his former college wide receiver, James Washington. The duo connected for 32 touchdowns while starring for the Cowboys. Washington could step in to fill the void left by Martavis Bryant, who the Steelers traded to the Raiders on Thursday.
Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Rudolph displayed a strong pocket presence at Oklahoma State. He led the FBS with 377 passing yards per game as a senior, completing 65 percent of his passes and throwing 37 touchdown passes to nine interceptions.
The 36-year-old Roethlisberger, who appeared to at least be thinking about retiring after the 2016 season, is signed through 2019.
➤ Connor Williams had to spend an extra night at AT&T Stadium, making a return trip to the green room after going undrafted in the first round Thursday.
It turns out he was just getting even more familiar with his new workplace.
The Texas offensive lineman is staying home after being drafted by the Cowboys with the 18th pick (50th overall) in the second round Friday.
Williams, who grew up in Coppell, Texas — a 25-minute drive from AT&T Stadium — dropped to a knee with his emotions on full display upon getting the call.
“Being from Dallas, my phone [number] starts with 972, so when I got the call, I knew who was calling,” Williams said. “It’s a dream come true. I’m a Dallas Cowboy. It’s a shock to say that.”
The Cowboys announced Williams as a guard, even though the 6-foot-5, 296-pounder played left tackle at Texas.
Already with one of the top offensive lines in the NFL in front of running back Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys added Williams to a unit that includes left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick, right guard
Zack Martin and right tackle La’el Collins.
➤ ESPN has lost some of its footprint in airing the NFL draft. The Worldwide Leader was the mostwatched channel for the event with a 3.9 rating, according to early ratings released Friday, but NFL Network (1.5) and FOX (2.9), which simulcast NFL Network’s coverage, teamed up to beat ESPN. The first night of last year’s draft produced a 4.8 for ESPN.