The Minnesota Vikings are at a crossroads, with Kirk Cousins’ contract expiring after he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. There are several factors at play in Cousins’ pending free agency.
If the Vikings re-sign Cousins, they can reduce his dead cap number and further delay investing premium picks into a quarterback. Unless Cousins’ play declines dramatically after tearing his Achilles, re-signing him (perhaps the most lackluster option) positions the Vikings for a shot in a shaky NFC, especially if they can tap into the talented defensive class on the horizon. The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys remain contenders but have new competition in the Detroit Lions. Therefore, the Vikings will have their work cut out to hoist an NFC crown they haven’t worn since 1977.
If the team ventures further down the competitive rebuild path Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has championed, they must do serious work to address the backup quarterback position. Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs, and Jaren Hall played poorly in Cousins’ absence last year. The Vikings also have a rare opportunity to snag a viable quarterback later in the draft.
Experts project South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler to go in the third round. However, his talent provides an intriguing ceiling. With mechanical work, acclimation to NFL speed, and development behind Cousins, Rattler could take over as an NFL starter or the bridge quarterback to lead the Vikings into the future. Rattler has had a tumultuous path to the NFL. Pundits have maligned him for his demeanor in the Netflix show QB1. 247Sports touted him as the No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class, but Oklahoma benched Rattler in favor of prospective first-overall pick Caleb Williams. Rattler transferred to South Carolina, where he led the Gamecocks to an 8-5 record in 2022.
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. FLORIDA, 2023
Above, Gators’ defensive lineman Caleb Banks (DT No. 88) takes a double-team from the left guard and center, and Kelby Collins (DE No. 11) twists over from the 4i-alignment to the B-Gap, attempting to take up the tailback’s block and allow a free rusher at the quarterback with the linebacker blitz.
Collins does not get there in time, and the linebacker collides with his back [while Banks simultaneously collides with fellow Gator Derek Wingo (LB, No. 15)], effectively deadening the attempt to pressure the quarterback via stunt.
Rattler tails towards the isolated rusher (T.J. Searcy, DE, No. 19) at the end of his dropback and looks at three routes in his four-route progression:
- X1 dig (NO)
- Y chips into defensive end -> shallow crosser underneath (NO)
- Z motions from left to right and runs a curl, making his break back towards the LOS at 13 yards (YES)
- And X2’s comeback (NO)
In his progression, Rattler quickly looks away from O’Mega Blake (WR, No. 89) with a manned corner and free safety Thornton (FS, No. 18) bailing deep overtop of Blake. Then he swiftly forgoes Trey Knox’s (TE, No. 1) shallow crosser as the “robber” Jordan Castell (S, No. 14) jumps out of his zone to pursue Knox, working quickly before settling on Xavier Legette’s (WR, No. 17) curl.
As he takes the final step in his dropback, Rattler watches as Legette flips the defensive back away, maneuvering the corner until his hips are open to the sidelines with a jump step seven yards before his break. Tailing away from the stunting rusher and blitzing linebacker, Rattler hitches, firing a ball to Legette.
Legette loses his footing for a moment but finishes his route, working through contact from the recovering cornerback to the ball for a 13-yard reception.
Rattler’s process is solid, and his pocket navigation in response to the pressure is exemplary.
Rattler also has the creation element, showing flashes of some of the most sought-after traits in the NFL. His accuracy on the run flashes, giving glimpses of what could be:
Rattler catches the low snap and quickly fakes the handoff to his running back. After scanning to his right, he rolls left, firing a ball with beautiful touch through a swiftly closing window to tight end Trey Knox for a South Carolina touchdown.
Rattler’s arm talent is undeniable. On a fadeaway pass with pressure in his face, he lofts the ball from his own 35-yard line to the opponent’s 10-yard line.
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. GEORGIA, 2023:
Rattler is under heavy pressure after a chip from tight end Trey Knox pushes an edge rusher through unblocked and delivers across the middle to the aforementioned tight end. Knox drops the ball.
Georgia’s blitz-heavy game plan overmatched South Carolina in the trenches, forcing them into the quick game. But Rattler executes this one-read sprint-out play to perfection. He fades away from pressure while moving toward the receiver, placing a ball slightly behind his target for a completion.
Rattler’s response to pressure against a dominant Georgia defense was impressive. There were several plays where Rattler faced an unblocked rusher or near-immediate pressure, and he often delivered or at least was able to extend the play.
Rattler hits his receiver in stride on a crossing route, leading to a big gain for South Carolina.
Rattler’s accuracy was commendable, as was his ability to stand in the pocket despite the pressure he faced.
Rattler was the second-most-pressured and sixth-most-sacked quarterback in the FBS, falling under fire in 163 dropbacks and being sacked 40 times during the 2023 season. Despite this, Rattler recorded a completion percentage of 47.1% under pressure (sixth in FBS) and an adjusted completion percentage of 66.3%. Rattler also had a turnover-worthy play percentage of 0.8% when blitzed, an impressive number in cohesion with his big-time throw percentage of 4.2%.
Rattler has the attention of some executives in the league. A former scout even went so far as to say that Rattler is the QB1 of the 2024 draft class:
That certainly isn’t everything when evaluating a player, though.
Rattler’s mechanics leave something to be desired, occasionally creating misses or less-catchable passes for his receivers while harming his velocity. Rattler doesn’t showcase the velocity his arm is capable of, leading to turnovers or turnover-worthy plays, and he’s more prone to inconsistencies while on the run.
Rattler will also occasionally forgo full-field reads in favor of targeting what he prefers pre-snap, leaving chunks on the field. That will not work in the NFL, with defenses rotating looks and disguising coverages at a high clip. Rattler also occasionally big-play hunts, forcing the ball downfield to blanketed receivers, leading to turnovers and TWPs. He occasionally hesitates before scrambling, leading to lanes clogging and sacks.
These are all fixable issues, but Rattler’s inconsistent pocket management is the most dire. Rattler is prone to drifting back behind his tackles’ leverage angles, creating pressure. And he doesn’t have Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, or Jayden Daniels’ escape speed to break free from defenders.
People disparaged Cousins’ poor pocket management for years, but he has improved it with age. Under the tutelage of Cousins and Kevin O’Connell, Rattler would have an opportunity to fix mechanical inconsistencies while honing his already impressive talent. Rattler’s vertical passing ability is incredibly impressive, along with his ability to work the middle of the field, something O’Connell prioritizes in his system.
If the Vikings take a shot on Rattler, they could develop him into their quarterback of the future.
