The Las Vegas Raiders have plans to draft a quarterback in this upcoming draft. However, no one knows how that will come to fruition. Will they trade up, stay at 13 and draft one, or even wait till the second round?
Now, there seems to be a new plan they could do, especially since it's starting to look like Michael Penix will not be available in the second round, as we all thought he would four months ago. Draft plans and stock changes, and it certainly has for Penix.
The Raiders can take him at 13 if he's available, but there is a chance the Denver Broncos snag him at pick No. 12. Now, there is a new name making his way onto the hypothetical draft plans.
According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Spencer Rattler, the former Oklahoma, and South Carolina QB, is starting to have quite a bit of team showing interest in him as a second-round pick, including the Raiders.
When he first burst onto the scenes as a freshman at OU, Rattler was said to be one of the next big things in football. His career hasn't quite panned out that way, but he is still a pretty good player - one that most people think could be much better suited for the NFL than college.
Here are some of his strengths and weaknesses from our big board:
STRENGTHS
- Concise & effortless throwing motion with a flexible release
- Excellent ball placement at every level of the field. Ranked 3rd in FBS in On-Tgt %
- South Carolina's OL was a disaster in 2023
- Stands in the pocket & throws dimes while he's getting hit
- Above average athleticism
- Instinctive playmaker with his legs & arm when he breaks the pocket
- Accuracy doesn't suffer when he's on the move/throwing off-platform
- Throws with sufficient velocity to attack tight windows
- Can make full-field reads when he's given protection
WEAKNESSES
- Delayed blitz recognition
- Very short for an NFL QB
- Lacks play strength to break out of sacks
- Can't throw over the pass rush from a compressed pocket
- Inconsistent spatial awareness under pressure. Frequently steps up into crowded pockets
- Spotty decision making. Will misjudge DB leverage & make dangerous throws
- Needs to lead his receivers more consistently on in-breaking routes
- Average arm strength. Struggles to beat deep coverage & forces WRs to work back to the ball
Rattler is our seventh-ranked QB in this draft. If the Raiders drafted him, we would have a QB battle day one of training camp.
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