Quarterback, Oklahoma, Eligible for 2022 NFL Draft
Spencer Rattler is currently the odds-on favorite to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy. At 6’1”, 205 lbs. he is shorter than the average NFL quarterback, but that isn’t keeping him from being projected at a stop option at the position in 2022. Rattler was the top quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class but was forced to sit his freshman season behind Jalen Hurts.
Past Production
With security at the position in Norman, Rattler only appeared in three games as a true freshman, attempting only 11 passes, and was ultimately redshirted.
The Sooners got off to a rocky start in 2020 dropping two of their first three games to Kansas State and Iowa State. Even though he completed over 70% of his passes for four touchdowns, the loss against K-State rested squarely on Rattler’s shoulders as he threw three interceptions.
Rattler finished the season with a 67.5% completion rate, leading to 3031 yards and 28 touchdowns. Rattler was also able to take six in himself on the ground. This past season he threw seven interceptions, but knowing that nearly half of them came in an outlier game where the Sooners were trying to come from behind, eases any worries.
Rattler bounced back from these early losses and led the Sooners to a number six ranking by the season’s end. He finished first in the Big 12 in completion percentage, passing yards, total yards, touchdowns responsible for, and a few other categories. However, this may not mean much as Brock Purdy and Sam Ehlinger were Rattler’s only real competition among Big 12 quarterbacks.
2021 Outlook
Outside of Rhamondre Stevenson, Rattler returns nearly all his meaningful weapons from the 2020 season. Unlike the other top quarterbacks, Howell and Slovis, he has his top receiver coming back and can continue to build that trust in the offseason. Oklahoma never scored less than 27 points in 2020, and I don’t expect Big 12 defenses to improve anytime soon. With Stevenson exiting, it opens the door to more opportunities in the passing game for Rattler.
At the end of this season, Rattler will definitely be joining fellow Sooners, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts in the pros. The real question is will he join Mayfield and Murray as a Heisman winner. Every starting quarterback that Lincoln Riley has coached has found a home in the NFL and, assuming Hurts starts after a Wentz trade, all three of them will be starters. While this should set devy managers at ease, it shouldn’t lull them into a false sense of security.
Devy Analysis
Without question, Spencer Rattler is going to be a top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. There will still be quarterback-needy teams, and with how the NFL values the position, it’s a pretty safe bet he’ll be off the board in the first five picks.
All he really needs to do to maintain his current value is not come out and lay an egg in 2021. As long as Rattler puts up numbers, which every Oklahoma quarterback has been able to do, he should be fine.
In Superflex leagues, Rattler is currently the top pick for me in the 2022 draft class. He is an extremely safe prospect coming from a program that has an extraordinary hit rate when it comes to producing NFL talent.
My biggest worry with Rattler is his size. Obviously, we can’t compare him to mobile quarterbacks like Murray or Hurts because he won’t put himself at as much risk. However, Baker Mayfield rushed for nearly twice as many yards as Rattler, which at the very least makes me question his mobility. He showed an ability to avoid the rush well enough, so it may be nothing. If he indeed isn’t mobile at his smaller size, injuries become a real worry for me. I’m still taking Rattler with the 1.01 in this class, but no prospect is without their risks.
Bonus
Spencer Rattler does have some traits I fawn over when it comes to the quarterback position. First of all, he played basketball at a high level, winning the 6A Arizona state championship in his final game. While basketball skills don’t necessarily translate to football, athleticism does.
In terms of throwing ability, Spencer Rattler can sling it. He throws with a lot more zip than power. His passes don’t have a ton of air under them, and he’s pretty accurate. Being part of the Oklahoma offense has forced Rattler to develop a better deep ball as well, which is good because arm strength was only of the only question marks he had coming out of high school.
Thanks for reading! If you have any fantasy questions, reach out to me on Twitter @fantasyonefive, and be sure to check out the rest of our devy profiles!
