Three quarterbacks were taken in the top five of the 2021 NFL Draft: Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance. More household names will be featured in the upcoming draft. Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler is already a Heisman Trophy favorite and projected top draft selection, along with North Carolina’s Sam Howell among others.
While diving into prospects at the position group for the 2022 NFL Draft, PFF ranked the top quarterbacks projected to fly off the board next April. To no one’s surprise, OU’s signal caller landed at No. 1.
The growing trend in the NFL of quarterbacks making plays outside the pocket and outside of structure comes to a head with Rattler. It’s damn near his entire game. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing when you’re as good at it as Rattler is. He went an absurd 53-of-76 for 830 yards with nine touchdowns and only one pick outside of the pocket last season. That was 228 more yards outside of the pocket than any other quarterback in college football.
Of course, he gets this ranking because he can also sling it inside the pocket.
Despite not having plus size at only 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Rattler very much has a plus arm. His size will likely be the biggest point of scrutiny against him going forward.
Along with making throws outside the pocket, Rattler can also do some work in the running game. He won’t be confused for a running back anytime soon, but he’ll certainly be involved in an option attack at the next level.
Rattler is a nightmare for defenses because he can beat teams through the air and on the ground. He is poised in the pocket with a quick release. When forced out of the pocket, he thrives. Rattler’s off-platform throws are something of beauty. His arm-strength makes up for the lack of conventional footwork while on the move. Rattler effortlessly evades traffic to either extend drives with his legs, or get the ball to an open receiver. There is a reason No. 7 has been compared to a young Patrick Mahomes.
Sure, he struggled with ball security early on as a redshirt freshman but bounced back and took the college football world by storm down the stretch in Lincoln Riley’s system. His decisiveness improved and he will set the tone in 2021 for Oklahoma’s offense. Rattler checks all of the boxes and with plenty of firepower at his disposal, he will put on a show in Crimson and Cream. With talented predecessors in Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, Rattler has the potential to surpass them all.