Oklahoma Football has produced two top picks over the past four drafts, and they will now look to make it three of the past five when the 2022 NFL Draft comes around. After a strong 2020 campaign with the Sooners, now redshirt sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler looks to follow in the footsteps of Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
This is not to neglect the success of Jalen Hurts in Norman either, as he went in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but Rattler has the potential to be on the Mayfield, Murray end of the spectrum if he puts together another strong season with the Sooners in 2021.
Another big season incoming for Rattler and Oklahoma Football?
In his first season as the starting quarterback of the Sooners, and as a redshirt freshman, Rattler put together a monster season. He finished the 11 game season with over 3,000 yards passing for 28 touchdowns and just seven interceptions; he ended the season completing over 67 percent of his passes as well. On the ground, Rattler ran for another 160 yards and hit paydirt an additional six times.
In a full season, Rattler’s numbers could have hit close to 4,000 yards passing with over 30 touchdowns as well. Now entering his second season as the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Football program, the expectations grow for the young gunslinger. If he meets these expectations, he could very well be the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Get to know the high-ceiling prospect here in this scouting report.
Strengths of Rattler’s game
How can we start anywhere else than with Rattler’s arm?
While Rattler is not a top-end athlete the way that the top four quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft of Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Justin Fields were in 2021, his arm is just as good. In fact, his arm may be even better than any 2021 quarterback not named Lawrence or Lance. He can layer throws, throw with touch, thread tight windows with darts, and displays perhaps the best deep ball in the class.
Again, Rattler may not be a top-end athlete, he does have the ability to make plays outside of structure and with his legs. He does not have the dynamic speed or explosiveness as a Lance or a Fields, but he can work outside of the pocket, throw on the run with great accuracy, and even hit a running lane if he sees one. His ability to extend plays mixed with his arm talent make him a big-time threat under-center.
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When looking at his mechanics as well, Rattler’s arm speed is tremendous. He keeps his elbow high, releasing the ball with tremendous timing. This allows for him to throw tight spirals and allow balls to zip into tight windows instead of fluttering to their intended target.
The strongest part of Rattler’s game, however, is the accuracy of which he strikes. In fact, he is the most accurate quarterback this writer has charted for the 2022 NFL Draft cycle. He was on target on nearly 65 percent of his deep balls, 75 percent of intermediate throws outside the numbers, and over 80 percent over the middle of the field at the intermediate range.
A talented passer, Rattler still has room to grow as a quarterback in 2021 with the Oklahoma Football program.
Where Rattler shows room for growth
In Oklahoma’s RPO-heavy offense, Rattler is not asked to do much at all in terms of pre-snap reads and adjustments. As he transitions to the NFL level, he will be tasked with much more on his plate under-center. Most of his reads, as a result, also tend to be half-field reads as well. This is not to say that Rattler does not have the ability to work through his reads, but what he is asked to do (and which he does well) is not overly translatable to an NFL play-caller.
The biggest area of Rattler’s game, however, that needs improvement is his ability to stand in the pocket. When he feels pressure, Rattle has the tendency to begin to get gunshy, bypassing open receivers for running lanes instead.
Additionally, Rattler struggles to show the willingness to step up into the pocket with consistency and instead frequently begins drifting deeper into the pocket. In 2021, it would be ideal to see Rattler begin to step up into clean pockets and step into throws instead of drifting into a baseless stance.
With the information given, how are we supposed to project Rattler to the NFL, and what are some potential landing spots for the Oklahoma Football quarterback should he declare for the 2022 NFL Draft?
Final thoughts and potential landing spots for Rattler
Looking at the teams who will be in need of a quarterback by the end of the 2021 season, and have a roster that will push them to the top of the draft order, Rattler will have his fair share of suitors at the next level. Teams like the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers have a significant shot of landing the dynamic Oklahoma Football gunslinger.
Given the direction the league is moving towards with quarterbacks, guys who can both sling the football all over the field with wild arm strength and also make plays outside of structure with their legs, Rattler fits the bill as he enters his redshirt sophomore season. Carter Donnick of The Draft Network puts it well:
"“The first passer that Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley has specifically hand-picked, Rattler seemingly embodies everything the new-age quarterback is trying to achieve: elite arm talent, elusive mobility, and exceptional improvisational skills.”"
In his second season with head coach Lincoln Riley, a privilege only Baker Mayfield got as a starter with the Sooners, there is no reason to believe that Rattler will remain stagnant in 2021. Should he clean up his pocket presence and continue to be one of the most accurate passers in college football, Rattler will be well on his way to being the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.