© Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
QB Prospect Sends Message to Broncos After Meeting With Sean Payton
The Denver Broncos heard this loud and clear.
As the NFL draft feverishly approaches with each passing day, the first-round-projected quarterbacks have become household names. With the exception of USC's Caleb Williams, various mock drafts continue to forecast the Denver Broncos taking a quarterback, from LSU's Jayden Daniels, UNC's Drake Maye, Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Oregon's Bo Nix, and Washington's Michael Penix Jr.
Some scenarios suggest that Sean Payton will need to move up from the No.12 overall spot to handpick his signal-caller, while others foreshadow the Broncos standing pat or even trading back to select the best remaining QB. But what if there’s another option that could work and be cost-effective for a rebuilding team like the Broncos?
South Carolina's Spencer Rattler joined FanDuel TV’s Up and Adams Show, where he was asked about the pre-draft process, specifically which team he had to prepare for the most.
“Probably Denver,” Rattler revealed to Kay Adams. “With their QB quiz and what they did for the install, it was a pretty cool thing. But definitely had to study up on that. But did a great job with that.”
Understanding that he’s very much in the interview phase when it comes to being courted by an NFL franchise, Rattler was reluctant to reveal too much about Payton’s evaluation and “quiz.” Rattler intimated that the meat and potatoes of the testing consisted of “offensive stuff, quarterback stuff, really breaking down their offense, formations, stuff like that."
The 23-year-old redshirt senior originally started his collegiate career at Oklahoma for three seasons under then-head coach Lincoln Riley. Rattler was an early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2021 before being replaced by Caleb Williams. Williams would later follow Riley to USC where he would win the Heisman in 2022.
Rattler transferred to South Carolina in 2022, where he compiled a 28-14 record in the ultra-competitive SEC and passed for over 6,000 yards and 37 touchdowns over two seasons. The Arizona native concluded his college career having played in 48 career games, totaling 10,807 passing yards, 77 touchdowns, plus 410 rushing yards and another 16 scores on the ground.
There’s little doubt that Rattler’s vast on-the-field experience will draw potential suitors to his game. However, the outspoken and fiery young prospect is turnover-prone — to the tune of 32 career interceptions — with ball security concerns punctuating his ‘gunslinger’ scouting profile.
Payton was visibly frustrated by former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson’s inconsistent level of play and poor decision-making. The veteran play-caller opted to release Wilson despite the Broncos being on the hook for an $85 million dead-cap hit.
Most projections designate Rattler as a Day 2 prospect somewhere between the second and third rounds of the draft. The Broncos don’t currently have a second-round pick in 2024, and as of right now, their next selection (after No. 12 overall) would be in the third round (No.76).
Perhaps Rattler could be the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option for Payton and the Broncos — should the team fail to land a quarterback in the first round.
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