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South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler tumbled in the NFL Draft, falling to the fifth round of the selection process. He was finally picked up on the event’s final day by the New Orleans Saints.
A narrative quickly developed after seeing that slide referencing character concerns as the main reasoning. NFL teams were reportedly hesitant due to the passer’s past.
As a high schooler, Rattler starred in Netflix’s QB1: Beyond the Lights. Since, a negative view of his leadership and attitude have followed. That outlook only escalated during his time at Oklahoma, where he failed to handle his midseason benching with grace.
But things changed after a transfer to South Carolina as he started a redemption tour of sorts.
In Columbia, he was twice voted team captain while demonstrating a newfound maturity upon regaining that starting quarterback tag. He stayed positive, even when a leaky offensive line failed to give him the protection needed to be at his best.
Despite the visible attitude adjustment, the outside perception didn’t seem to change.
Questions about Spencer Rattler’s character resurfaced during the NFL Draft.
After seeing that fall to the fifth round, Pete Thamel reported that the passer’s “intangibles” were largely to blame.
There are the intangibles about Rattler, especially going back to his days at Oklahoma when he lost the job to Caleb Williams.
There are questions about his work ethic, questions about his attitude and you have to ask the question if you draft him: Can you trust him to come in and be a backup?
-Pete Thamel
Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer did his part to quiet that narrative, going scorched earth on the idea that Rattler remains the immature player and person many perceive.
Still, it again became a storyline which continues to follow him throughout his football career.
Was there truth to the attitude problems directly affecting his draft day position? Only those in those NFL war rooms know that answer.
Adam Schefter believes there were other factors at play, those which were out of Spencer Rattler’s control completely.
The NFL insider says that the two teams most interested in the signal caller’s services passed after drafting QBs in the first round. Those franchises were the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos.
“The two teams that liked Spencer Rattler the most were the Broncos and Falcons..
Those two options closed up immediately which left him sitting on the board longer than people thought he would” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/qVXZabmgkY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 29, 2024
“The two teams that liked Spencer Rattler the most were the Broncos and Falcons,” Schefter said Monday on the Pat McAfee Show. “Those two options closed up immediately which left him sitting on the board longer than people thought he would.”
It’s a logical answer, and one that somewhat quiets the ‘character concerns’ viewpoint, though other teams likely had their own reasons for backing off.
As it stands, Rattler will head down to NOLA to join a Saints QB room that boasts Derek Carr, Taysom Hill, Jake Haener, Kellen Mond, and Nathan Peterman in hopes of competing for early playing time.