Teams are always looking for the next Tom Brady or Brock Purdy. With the volume of quarterbacks expected to be selected early in round one, a few prospects will fly under the radar. There’s one sleeper prospect at quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Spencer Rattler Is the Top Quarterback Sleeper of the NFL Draft.
The College Journey
As a five-star recruit coming out of high school, Rattler appeared bound for stardom under Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. Under Rattler, the Sooners surged. As Okahoma’s starter in 2020 and 2021, Rattler went 14-2. It wasn’t until Caleb Williams came to town that Rattler’s days became numbered at Oklahoma. Even after a strong 2020 campaign, the patience among Oklahoma fans grew thin for Rattler. The pressure came to a head when Oklahoma fell behind in their heated rivalry with Texas in 2021.
Rattler was benched in favor of Williams, and the rest was history. Rattler remained a team player and even continued to take snaps in situational roles for Oklahoma. But Williams was named the team’s starter from that point on. Once the season ended, Rattler transferred to South Carolina. The fresh start allowed Rattler to reunite with his former coach, Shane Beamer, and become the face of the Gamecocks.
His Growth
Coaches and players raved about Rattler’s growth as a player and leader at South Carolina. The experience of being demoted in favor of another blue-chip player is something Rattler used to learn from. South Carolina wasn’t the same powerhouse as Oklahoma under Rattler, but there were flashes of good moments. In 2022, South Carolina upset rival Clemson, and the team went bowling. This last season was less favorable for Rattler and the Gamecocks, but he also had to deal with a revolving door on the offensive line in 2023.
At the quarterback position, handling adversity is one of the top traits that scouts and general managers look for. Starting experience is another valuable component to transitioning smoothly to the NFL. At both Oklahoma and South Carolina, Rattler appeared in 48 games (per sports-reference.com). Recently, NFL teams have seen starting experience translate to the field for rookies. Aidan O’Connell is an example of a player who acclimated well to the pro level after starting more than 30 games in college.
Team Fits
Given his pedigree and athleticism, the floor for Rattler appears high enough for a team to take a chance on him early in the draft. While players like Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. are presumed to go ahead of Rattler, there’s a chance the South Carolina product gets selected early on day two. Teams like the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons have veteran starters in place but are worth watching as destinations for Rattler. Both teams could sit Rattler and allow him to develop while their respective starters play out their contracts. Such a strategy has worked out in Green Bay and Kansas City.
For a team like the Minnesota Vikings, Rattler becomes an intriguing fit. If the Vikings cannot trade up for a top quarterback prospect, Rattler would be an ideal fit for Kevin O’Connell. Their extra first-round pick could be flipped for a day two pick, which they could use on Rattler. The team signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract, but Rattler could either come in and compete for the starting job or sit on the bench for a year to develop.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
