Chargers: Mason Rudolph should be Philip Rivers’ successor

The Los Angeles Chargers’ hot streak ultimately was not enough to land them in the playoffs. Now, the attention must shift to the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Los Angeles Chargers were one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Were the Bolts to get into the playoffs, they likely could have beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars and would have given the New England Patriots a run for their money.

However, as every Charger fan knows, the team failed to make the playoffs due to a three-way tiebreaker that nulled their head-to-head win over the Buffalo Bills.

2017 was still a great year for the Chargers. The team finished 9-7 after a 4-0 start, matching their combined win total from the two seasons prior. The talent is definitely there, the Chargers just need some luck and a kicking game on their side.

Thus, the 2018 NFL Draft becomes critical. The Los Angeles Chargers are a mere few pieces away from making that final push. Rookie Mike Williams will likely come into his own in his second season. Second round pick Forrest Lamp will return from injury. Add those in, with a few other key pieces, and the Chargers are adding a lot in 2018.

However, LA’s first round pick should not be used on someone that will start in 2018. Instead, the Chargers should select quarterback Mason Rudolph with the 17th overall pick to eventually succeed Philip Rivers.

Rudolph was great for Oklahoma State last season. The six-foot-five quarterback completed 65 percent of his passes for 4904 yards, 37 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Rudolph is not mobile, much like Philip Rivers.

Rudolph definitely has all of the natural abilities on his side. He is tall, has great arm strength and overall athleticism. All Rudolph needs is to iron the kinks; be a better decision maker, work on his footwork and become more consistent on his throws.

More from LA Sports Hub

• Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
• LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
• LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
• Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
• LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month

Those are all things you can learn under a Hall of Fame quarterback like Philip Rivers. Rudolph already has the natural talents, all he needs is some coaching up. Who better than Rivers, who is a similar player mold to Rudolph, to teach him the NFL way?

Rivers has two more seasons under contract, after that, at 38 years old, Rivers may retire or the Chargers may opt to go a different direction. This gives Rudolph plenty of time to adapt and learn under Rivers; much like Rivers did with Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers did with Brett Favre.

Right now, CBS Sports has Rudolph going 21st overall to the Buffalo Bills. It is almost certain with such a deep quarterback pool that Rudolph will fall to the 17th overall selection. While an offensive lineman or linebacker could be picked, those positions can easily be filled in the second and third round.

Quarterback, however, cannot. Too many teams are in need of quarterbacks. Although it is a deep class and Rudolph will likely fall to 17th, it is hard to see him falling to the Chargers second-round selection. Thus, selecting him in the first round is imperative.

Next: Offensive and Defensive MVP's for the Chargers

The Chargers already have new additions on the way in 2018 and a pretty solid starting lineup. Unless a huge opportunity opens down the road, Mason Rudolph looks to be the best option at the 17th overall selection.