In their 2024 quarterback mock draft, ESPN’s Matt Miller and Jordan Reid have the Las Vegas Raiders taking South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler with the 77th overall pick.
“Signing Gardner Minshew II this offseason and drafting Aidan O’Connell in the fourth round last year likely won’t keep the Raiders out of the QB running,” wrote Miller and Reid. “It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Raiders trade back into the later parts of the first round to add a QB, but with five signal-callers off the board early in this scenario, looking to Rattler makes sense.”
The Raiders have the 13th overall pick in the draft. However, top QB prospects, such as Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams, may fly off the board.
A general manager recently told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini they could see quarterbacks go with the first four picks in the draft.
Las Vegas could try to trade up, but it’s costly. In 2023, Carolina dealt two first-rounders and star wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Bears, acquiring the first overall pick. The Panthers selected QB Bryce Young, who posted a below-average 33.4 QBR in 16 games.
In five seasons at Oklahoma and South Carolina, Rattler completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 77 TDs, 32 interceptions and an above-average 152.2 passer rating. Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema rates him as the seventh-best QB in the draft class and thinks he has upside.
Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells turn 3rd & 17 into a 62-yard touchdown!! 🚨pic.twitter.com/H78IxKg8HB
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) September 10, 2022
“Rattler has a mature game with fundamentals and pocket presence in addition to good accuracy in and out of structure,” wrote Sikkema. “His arm is adequate, but he needs to continue to improve at seeing additional coverage defenders post-snap. He projects as a Day 2 QB with starting potential.”
While the Raiders should try to find an answer at the most crucial position in the draft’s first round, taking Rattler seems like a solid backup plan.
