Falcons Had 'Large Contingent' at QB Spencer Rattler's Pro Day After Kirk Cousins Signing

Despite signing Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons continued their due diligence with quarterbacks in this year's draft class.

The Atlanta Falcons solved their quarterback question at the start of free agency by signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract March 13.

But Atlanta, which agreed to terms with Cousins on March 11, has continued its work on quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft — including South Carolina signal caller Spencer Rattler.

According to Sportskeeda, the Falcons had a “large contingent” at Rattler's pro day, which occurred one day after the acquisition of Cousins.

At February’s NFL Combine, Rattler said he had “good talks” with the Falcons.

Nov 11, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) throws for a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium / Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Rattler is currently projected as a Day 2 draft pick following a five-year college career that began with a three-year stint at Oklahoma before transferring to the South Carolina for his final two campaigns.

For his career, Rattler finished with a completion rate of 68.5 percent while accumulating 10,807 yards, 77 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.

The 6-foot-1, 218-pound Rattler was a captain in each of his two years with the Gamecocks and started all 25 games possible. In 2023, he completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 3,186 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

A former five-star recruit who was highly touted out of Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, Rattler was benched midway through his third season at Oklahoma for now-projected No. 1 pick Caleb Williams.

But Rattler, who turns 24 in September, rejuvenated his career — and professional prospects — with the Gamecocks, twice being named co-winner of the team’s MVP award.

Better yet, Rattler earned high marks from one of his former teammates, defensive back Marcellas Dial, not for his on-field play but the way he conducts himself.

Dial departed South Carolina with belief that Rattler will be a successful pro quarterback.

“Because of how much of a pro he is,” Dial said. “He’s always the first one in the building, last one to leave, always eager to learn. He accepts his mistakes, and he learns from them. He’s one that’s a great leader — someone that’s going to do it by example.”

Rattler’s potential fit in Atlanta is rather straightforward.

Cousins is coming off a torn right Achilles tendon and turns 36 before the season begins. Atlanta shipped Desmond Ridder, last year’s intended starter, to the Arizona Cardinals, and now has veteran Taylor Heinicke as Cousins’ backup.

The Falcons believe they’re talented enough to be playoff contenders this season — it’s why they committed so much financial capital to Cousins rather than trading up in the draft and tying their fate to a rookie signal caller.

But Rattler likely wouldn’t see the field as a rookie, barring disaster. He’d enter a veteran-laden room with an established starter in Cousins and backup in Heinicke, each of whom know how to operate in their respective roles.

Heinicke’s contract expires after the 2024 season. Perhaps Rattler would be able to take over as Cousins’ backup, giving Atlanta a youthful, cheap reserve behind its expensive franchise quarterback.

Cousins Sets Goal to 'Elevate' Teamamtes

Drafting quarterbacks, especially in the top 100, is often met with expectations or at least consideration of the player becoming a long-term solution. Rattler doesn’t need to be and likely wouldn’t be expected to become that.

And so, while there’s little question about the Falcons’ starting quarterback for 2024 and several years thereafter, Rattler may be of interest in a reserve role with an eye towards a post-Heinicke future.