JACKSON: Has Spencer Rattler been ruled out too early?

By Ross Jackson 

With all of the speculation and uncertainty surrounding the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback position, many have already begun to pass on second-year passer Spencer Rattler. But is it too early to do so?

As progress towards resolution with starting quarterback Derek Carr continues, the Saints could turn immediately to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. But if Rattler shows that he is clearly the better option throughout training camp and the preseason, the Saints wouldn’t turn a blind eye. 

Rattler has six games of starting experience from last year. While those games were all losses, the team around him was a far cry from healthy or complete. 

With more weapons, more experience and more time to focus on preparing for the offense rather than making the NFL transition, there’s a chance he does take a sizable and noticeable step forward. 

The former South Carolina passer had some flashy moments last year including plays made with both his arm and picking up yards with his legs. However, consistency was hard to come by. Was that because of Rattler’s youth and inexperience at the NFL level? Or was it about the offense as a whole?

These are questions, along with the outlook of Shough and the health of Carr, that the Saints will have to pursue real answers to this offseason. 

If Rattler can separate himself without a shadow of a doubt from Shough and Carr is unavailable to start the season, he certainly deserves to go without being forgotten in the quarterback conversation.

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