MOBILE, Ala. — The Pittsburgh Steelers will potentially look to add a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, but it seems less likely that will be someone high in the NFL Draft. Instead, they could look at a mid-round draft pick like Jordan Travis or Michael Pratt. But more than that, the Senior Bowl will allow the Steelers to scout those positions to determine who they would want.
But Spencer Rattler could end up being the quarterback whose stock rose the most throughout the week. Rattler, in particular, had some good moments. He started off the first day of practice ready to go, but ended that one with an interception and some wildly erratic throws. But throughout the rest of the week, Rattler flashed his arm talent outside the numbers, hitting guys into tight windows and on back-shoulder fades. His poise was impressive.
In the game itself, he capped that off with a beautiful throw down the sideline to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint on a dime outside the numbers. That throw will turn the heads of NFL scouts, no matter the setting. And Rattler has had the journey to learn some extremely valuable lessons as a college player moving from Oklahoma to South Carolina and playing in the heart of an SEC schedule.
Rattler might’ve had the best week of practice. He certainly did compared to expectations. Rattler came in as an expected Day Three pick, but has been nearly as good as the higher-profile options. But he has arm talent and can work off platform and on the move. The requisite traits to become an intriguing NFL quarterback are all there. The Steelers need to lean into finding that guy to develop, even if it is just to become a future backup.
Rattler’s tape at South Carolina is up and down, but the more he played, the more poised he became. Now, he seems set to go into the NFL Draft and get picked sometime on day three. But are the Steelers the team that should take the risk on him? It depends on how the board falls, but he has to be someone they consider on day three.