3 years later: Re-evaluating the Detroit Lions’ 2016 draft class

Jake Rudock, QB

Selected: Sixth round / pick #16 (191st overall)
School: Michigan
Position: Quarterback
Career statistics: 3 games, 0 starts, 3-5 passing, 24 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int
Current status: In training camp with Miami Dolphins

When your starting quarterback has set practically every team passing record and has made 128 consecutive starts, developing young signal callers tends to move to the back burner. Still, the Lions have struggled to find a legitimate backup to Matthew Stafford for the majority of his career, and Rudock’s (pictured above) selection proved no different.

Rudock would bounce between the practice squad and the active roster in his three seasons with the Lions, making just three regular season appearances in that time. When he was on the field, his lack of arm strength and accuracy was too hard to mask, and the Lions decided to move on in 2019.

Rudock is currently on the roster of his hometown Miami Dolphins. It’s hard to see them keeping three quarterbacks this season, and it’s even harder to see him overtaking former first rounder Josh Rosen and veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick on the depth chart, save for an injury.