Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
This one certainly seems like a pipe dream. If you know much about Spencer Rattler then you probably already know that he’s a front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and has a strong chance to be the top pick in the NFL Draft with a great season this year.
However, as I said, we don’t know what type of record the Steelers are going to come away with in 2021, and I’m not ready to rule him out entirely. In terms of pure arm strength, Willis might have a bigger arm than Rattler, but his overall skill set for the position is perfect for today’s NFL.
Like Willis, Spencer Rattler is a bit on the small side – listed at 6’1′ and 215 pounds. Fortunately, there’s no evidence that size at the quarterback position matters much in today’s NFL (Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Dak Prescott, and Russell Wilson are all 6’2” or shorter). Still, Rattler has a quick release and gets some zip behind his ball. While he’s not a terrific athlete, he certainly meets the thresholds for athleticism I look for at the position.
However, Rattler’s best trait is extending the play and routinely making plays down the field. In fact, Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the best to ever do so at the collegiate level. Rattler can take unnecessary sacks or make poor decisions at times, but you can live with this for a player who creates as much as he does for his offense. He may no the there for the Steelers, but they should certainly have interest – perhaps enough to move up for him.