Saints select South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler in Round 5 of 2024 NFL Draft

The New Orleans Saints ended the run of selections without a quarterback in the fifth round.

The Saints selected South Carolina signal-caller Spencer Rattler No. 150 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Rattler is the first quarterback to come off the board since the Denver Broncos selected Bo Nix at No. 12 overall. The string of 137 selections between QBs is an NFL draft record.

The 23-year-old Rattler joins a Saints quarterback room behind starter Derek Carr. Rattler will battle 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener and free-agent additions Nathan Peterman and Kellen Mond for reps behind Carr.

Rattler, with the opportunity to grow and develop as a potential future option under center in The Bayou, can afford to be patient as Carr holds the starting position. Furthermore, Rattler serves as a safety net in case Carr, who suffered numerous injuries in 2023 but never missed a start, gets hurt.

Rattler’s journey to the NFL was highly publicized and unpredictable.

A five-star QB out of Pinnacle High in Arizona, Rattler missed much of his senior year after being suspended from school for 30 days due to undisclosed reasons. Nonetheless, he made his way to Oklahoma as a much-ballyhooed recruit. He redshirted as a freshman behind current Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts and then started as a sophomore, showing promise to the tune of 3,031 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, he was benched in the 2021 season when this year’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams, took over the starting role. Rattler transferred to South Carolina and became the school’s first quarterback drafted since 1990 when the Broncos selected Todd Ellis in the ninth round.

In his last season at college in 2023, Rattler established a new school record by achieving a 68.9 completion percentage. He threw for 3,186 yards, made 19 touchdowns, and had eight interceptions. After his stint with the Gamecocks, Rattler earned MVP accolades at the Reece’s Senior Bowl.

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported that the 23-year-old excelled both on and off the field during the pre-draft process, which included more than a dozen team visits.

Sadly, Rattler’s 6-foot, 210-pound build and 4.95 40-yard dash speed are not something he can easily overcome. However, he displayed resilience by playing behind a weak offensive line during his senior year. This toughness, combined with his strong arm and swift release, adds to his strengths.

Rattler, generally considered the seventh-best quarterback in the outstanding 2024 class, had to wait longer than anticipated to be drafted. Yet, he ended up in a position where he could potentially become a starter if the Saints decide to replace Carr.