The New Orleans Saints made a significant move on Saturday, selecting Spencer Rattler, the South Carolina quarterback, as their first choice in the fifth round of picks.
Rattler’s selection marked the first quarterback taken since the opening day of the draft, where six quarterbacks were chosen in the initial round. Sharing his excitement, Rattler expressed gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing his faith and happiness with being chosen by the Saints.
Before his selection, Rattler had the chance to visit New Orleans, even having dinner with Andrew Janocko, the Saints’ quarterbacks coach. The positive experience during his visit left Rattler with a strong belief that the Saints could be eyeing him for their team.
Now part of the Saints’ quarterback lineup, Rattler joins Derek Carr, Kellen Mond, Nathan Peterman, and Jake Haener. His selection by the Saints marked their third pick in the 2024 draft, following Taliese Fuaga and Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Despite speculation, Saints coach Dennis Allen confirmed that the team had not attempted to trade up for one of the top six quarterbacks in the initial round.
Rattler’s connection with the Saints goes beyond the draft; he attended the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana in 2022 and maintains regular communication with former Saints quarterback Archie Manning, forging a bond that extends beyond football.
With a college career spanning Oklahoma and South Carolina, Rattler’s performance, including winning the Senior Bowl MVP, highlighted his potential. Additionally, his appearance on the Netflix series “QB1: Beyond the Lights” during high school showcased his journey to football stardom.
Reflecting on his time at South Carolina, Rattler’s former offensive coordinator, Dowell Loggains, acknowledged the impact Rattler had on his decision to join the coaching staff, underscoring Rattler’s influence both on and off the field.
“The guy that I got to coach for a year, I’m a better person for coaching him,” Loggains said. “I saw a guy that was a great teammate, a guy that was humble and treated people well. … He was the leader of the quarterback room, not myself, and the only way you can become a leader is if the other guys in the room know you care about him. All the guys rallied around him.”
