Saints Get Steal of Draft

By Jim Gazzolo

There was a time when Spenser Rattler was considered the next big thing in quarterbacks. 

He was the best high school gunslinger in his class, a sure-fire college star destined for greatness on that level and then the NFL. 

It was just a matter of time, and we were all given a front-row seat to his development.

Rattler became known while a five-star recruit in Arizona as a 17-year-old high school phenomenon. He was a famous subject in the Netflix documentary “QB1: Beyond the Lights”.

During the show, Rattler was seen as a cocky kid who often made fun of his teammates and missed a good portion of his senior year by suspension. It was not the best of looks.

That image stayed with him in college when he went and won the starting job at Oklahoma. He would be benched for Caleb Williams, who went on to USC to win a Heisman Trophy and become the No. 1 pick in last week’s NFL draft. 

Rattler moved on to play at South Carolina, where he put up solid numbers behind an offensive line that didn’t protect him very well. His name wasn’t announced on the first day of the draft when six quarterbacks were taken in the opening round.

Nor was it mentioned on the second day when rounds two and three were picked.

Suddenly, the can’t-miss kid was missing.

That’s when the Saints stepped in.

With the 150th pick overall, the Saints selected Rattler with their first fifth-round selection. He became the seventh quarterback taken and first since the opening day.

Rattler could be the steal of the draft. 

In need of a backup QB, the Saints believe they could have found their guy in the 6-foot, 211-pounder.

“That name just kept staring at us,” Saints head coach Dennis Allen told NOLA.com. “When it became our time to pick. It was really obvious that it was the right choice.”

During Rattler’s two seasons at South Carolina, he showed the type of quarterback he could be even with the odds stacked against him. More importantly, he did so out of the spotlight and never complained about his tough situation.

Rattler threw for 6,212 yards while connecting on 67.5 percent of his passes. He is an accurate thrower who is athletic and can make plays out of the pocket.

He has all the attributes to become a solid NFL QB who may be a star one day. And he may also be more prepared for the spotlight if it comes again.

“Having success, having adversity, that helps shape you as a player and a person,” Rattler said. “I wouldn't change a thing about nothing at college, so I'm ready for the next step. I know I'm prepared.”

That’s just what Saints fans hope to hear. 

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese athletics. He is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles