Spencer Rattler’s NFL Draft Overview
Meeting or exceeding exceptionally high expectations can be an arduous feat. One individual who has learned this lesson firsthand is Spencer Rattler, one of the quarterback prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft. The South Carolina quarterback was the 2019 number one quarterback, top 10 overall recruit, and committed to Oklahoma. Rattler had a stellar redshirt freshman season, earning first-team All-Big 12 and throwing for 3,032 yards, 28 TDs, and seven interceptions. Before Rattler’s redshirt sophomore season, he was named preseason All-American, Heisman favorite, and projected first-round pick. Instead, his sophomore season was a complete disaster full of bad decisions, inconsistent play, and being benched for Caleb Williams.
Rattler transferred to South Carolina, and in his two years as a starter, he combined for 6,212 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. However, was it enough to significantly improve his draft stock back to elite status? Let’s dig into the film to find out.
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’1 (Unofficial)
Weight: 217 lbs (Unofficial)
Age: 23 years old
School: South Carolina
Spencer Rattler’s Player Evaluation
Rattler’s Strengths
- Spencer has strong NFL Tier 2 arm talent and can easily hit all three levels of the football field.
- He doesn’t shy away from intense pressure. Even when defenders come at him, he remains steadfast, stands tall in the pocket, and delivers accurate passes.
- Typically accurate on intermediate and short throws.
- Impressive accuracy and velocity on deep outs and throws over the middle.
- Consistent and smooth natural throwing motion.
Rattler’s Weakness
- Decision making is a crucial aspect of any quarterback’s game. While I’ve noticed some improvements, too many moments still leave me questioning what he’s doing on the field.
- His consistency in throwing with anticipation needs work, as he tends to be late on more throws than I’d like. This may not be a massive issue in the college leagues, but it’s definitely something that needs to be addressed before entering the NFL, where it could lead to interceptions.
Projection: Late Second to Early Third Round Pick
NFL Comparison: Baker Mayfield
Best Fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, and the New York Jets.
Bottom Line
Is Spencer Rattler an impressive, talented quarterback who has high-end NFL traits? He is a natural thrower of the football, with an incredibly strong and athletic versatility to make plays in all areas of the football field. Along with his talented arm, Rattler has the accuracy and touch to beat any coverage man or zone. He has a rapid, smooth release to take advantage of the quick and intermediate game from the pocket. However, he MUST improve his decision-making and consistency to reach his potential, throwing with anticipation. If so, Rattler could be a steal of the draft and an NFL starter for a decade.
Main Photo Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
