Spencer Rattler Set To Make NFL Debut Against Buccaneers
The New England Patriots fan base couldn't be more excited to see the Drake Maye era kickoff on Sunday. There's something about a rookie quarterback that excites just about any fan base. A little over 1500 miles from Gillette Stadium, another rookie quarterback is set to debut. The New Orleans Saints are handing the ball to Spencer Rattler against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rattler was taken 147 picks after Maye in the April draft (150th overall), and even though he may be considered a steal, based on where he was projected, the excitement in Louisiana for his debut is quite a bit more tempered than the reception Maye is getting. This is likely due to the great start Derek Carr is off to.
Despite being just 2-3 on the season, Carr is completing 70.3 percent and has a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The NFC South is still up for grabs, and regardless of a team's record, fans will hesitate to be enthusiastic about a 5th-round pick directing the offense.
Spencer Rattler Is Better Than Most Think
Rattler played all four years of high school football for Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He threw for over 11,000 yards and 116 touchdowns as a four-year starter. Before the start of his senior year, he was the MVP of the Elite-11. The 2018 list of invites there included second overall pick Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders and 12th overall pick Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos.
The five-star recruit and top-rated quarterback prospect in the country committed to Oklahoma, where he redshirted as a true freshman. Rattler's RS Freshman year he led the Sooners to their 6th straight Big 12 Conference Championship with a 27-21 win over Iowa State. Despite being a Heisman favorite to start his sophomore season, he was benched against Texas for Caleb Williams, and never played again for Oklahoma.
Rattler transferred to the SEC and went 8-5 for South Carolina. In his final two games of the season, he had 438 yards and six touchdowns against fifth-ranked Tennessee, then 360 yards and two touchdowns against number-eight Clemson. He was the 2024 Senior Bowl MVP, going 4/4 for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Scouts considered Rattler a bit undersized for the NFL, standing barely six feet tall, but his arm talent is as good as any of the quarterbacks taken ahead of him in the draft. There's no doubt he has a chip on his shoulder, an oblique injury to Carr may be a blessing in disguise for Saints fans. The entire situation is eerily similar to a Drew Bledsoe injury in New England leading to six banners hanging in Gillette.