If the Raiders emerge from the upcoming NFL draft with a highly regarded quarterback, making a late surge up the draft boards, it wouldn’t come as a shock. All indicators suggest the Raiders are seeking to bolster their quarterback room with more talent.
However, should that quarterback turn out to be Spencer Rattler from South Carolina, the reaction might be more tepid.
Despite being a former 5-star recruit, Rattler’s performance over five college seasons with Oklahoma and the Gamecocks hasn’t quite lived up to the hype.
In a recent seven-round mock draft projection for the Raiders by The Athletic, a departure from the anticipated moves was envisioned. Rather than pursuing well-known prospects like a trade up for LSU’s Jayden Daniels or a reach for Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., the focus shifted to Rattler with a late move-up trade.
According to Bleacher Report’s scouting report, Rattler possesses a “special arm talent,” characterized by a loose, explosive throwing motion coupled with high-end velocity and control.
In this scenario, the Raiders would potentially trade up to the No. 70 overall pick in the third round, offering picks No. 77 and 148 (a fifth-rounder) to the Giants to secure Rattler.
With quarterbacks like Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew in the mix, the Raiders have the luxury of easing a new addition into play, unless he impressively claims the starting role immediately. Additionally, this strategy allows the Raiders, burdened with Jimmy Garoppolo’s dead cap hit next season, to address the quarterback position economically.
O’Connell’s modest cap hit of around $1 million for the next season contrasts with the $12 million spent on Minshew, which might be deemed excessive but positions him as a potential initial starter.
For a third-round pick like Rattler in this scenario, a four-year deal worth less than $6 million in total is anticipated. Consequently, the Raiders would be allocating less than $15 million for their active quarterbacks.
Granted, this isn’t the blockbuster quarterback move that many Las Vegas Raiders fans are hoping to see. But, it could end up paying off in the long run if Rattler can realize his full potential.
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