Six quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. But, former South Carolina Gamecocks signal caller Spencer Rattler had to wait until the fifth round to learn his NFL fate.

The New Orleans Saints used the 150th overall pick on Rattler on Saturday. But Shane Beamer, Rattler’s former coach, took issue with how far the quarterback had fallen in the draft. He suggested that unfavorable scouting reports and pre-draft narratives contributed to 149 players being drafted ahead of Rattler.

“Such a tired , lazy narrative. And bullcrap,” Beamer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Beamer proceeded to highlight Rattler’s leadership skills and described the 23-year-old as a “great player.”

“None of the NFL teams that called me said that….And any team that thinks that clearly hasn’t done their research He dealt w adversity at OU in a class way , came to SC , was a great player and was voted by his TEAMMATES as a captain …TWO YEARS IN A ROW He’s a great person , great player and some team is getting a future starter today.”

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Some analysts and mock drafts projected Rattler would land in the second or third round.

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Beamer later congratulated Rattler for landing in New Orleans.

“Thanks for the amazing moments we’ve shared together since 2019 at @GamecockFB & Oklahoma…. You’re a great teammate , player & person ! You got a great one @Saints -Your best [football] is in front of you @SpencerRattler,” Beamer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Spencer Rattler #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks passes during the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Athens, Georgia.  (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Rattler suggested he was content to be selected at any point in the draft.

“At the end of the day it’s a blessing to get picked wherever,” Rattler said on Saturday. “I knew we were waiting around a day or two but I had faith that I would be picked today. … I was very happy the Saints came and picked me, what a great feeling.”

Spencer Rattler #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks to pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 30, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida.  (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Rattler’s appearance on a reality show may have negatively impacted his draft stock. In 2019, Rattler was a high football player and was featured on Netflix’s docuseries “QB1: Beyond the Lights.”

“This is kind of weird to say, honestly,” Rapoport said. “Rattler did a reality show in high school called QB1: Beyond the Lights. It did not make him look great, and it is unbelievable how many different teams mentioned to me the image of him in that show and that they can’t get it out of their heads, which I think would be a public service announcement to all 17-year-olds. But it is fascinating as teams weigh whether or not to draft him.”

Rattler started his college football career at Oklahoma, before transferring to South Carolina. He finished his college career with 10,807 passing yards and 77 touchdowns.

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The Chargers drafted nine players at five positions with the parallel goals of immediate help in 2024 and further depth for seasons to come.

One of the spots they didn’t address — because they didn’t need to — was quarterback, where Justin Herbert is entering the fifth season of a career off to a record-setting start.

However, the Chargers did, in fact, draft someone who has played the position.

“I was a bigger quarterback,” Joe Alt explained, causing laughter throughout his introductory news conference Friday. “Let’s be real, I ran the ball most of the time.”

Alt, all 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds of him, was the team’s first-round pick, selected fifth overall and projected to take over at right tackle. His quarterbacking days ended back in high school in Minnesota.

His addition, plus the Day 2 selections of wide receiver Ladd McConkey and linebacker Junior Colson, highlighted the first Chargers draft for general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh.

“I’m really excited the way it went, especially [when] you look at our first pick,” said Hortiz, who then talked about Alt being the best tackle available. “And then the opportunity to take the players we took each time, we were just excited to take every one. I really believe we made our team better.”

Hortiz and Harbaugh addressed obvious needs, while sticking to selections with both production and potential mostly from major programs. The Chargers’ picks came from Notre Dame, Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, USC, Maryland and Troy.

There were no head-scratching decisions or glaring reaches that could be immediately questioned. The Chargers pretty much followed a path that was easy to understand.

“It was outstanding,” assistant general manager Chad Alexander said. “You could tell by how happy everyone was at the end … everyone’s high-fiving and just really pumped up and excited about the result.”

As the first pick, Alt will be the most instantly scrutinized as he makes a key transition that will help determine the overall success of the Chargers up front.

Alt played left tackle at Notre Dame but began working on the right side during his pre-draft ramp up to better prepare for all the possibilities that awaited him.

He said he trained with former NFL guard Alex Boone at a facility in Minnesota, adding he didn’t think the switch will be “very drastic” because of that experience and his time as a tight end, which Alt played after giving up quarterback.

As a tight end, Alt said he lined up with each hand on the ground, depending on whether he was on the left or right side of the formation. Alt’s athletic ability and footwork also are expected to aid in the move.

He clearly possesses the sort of attitude Harbaugh famously embraces, the coach always preaching blocking and tackling and old-school principles.

Last season, the Fighting Irish frequently pulled Alt on runs to exploit his skills in more open spaces.

“When I heard those plays called, it was the most fun because you get to show your athletic ability but also [you] have so much more speed rolling behind you to hit somebody,” Alt said. “You have a bigger impact.”

Alt said he has studied Joe Thomas and Lane Johnson in readying for the NFL. He also has watched tape of his father, John, who played offensive tackle for Kansas City for 13 years starting in the mid-1980s.

Hortiz specifically touted McConkey’s route-running precision, which he combines with quickness and 4.39 speed. Said Harbaugh, “I love the guys who can run in the 4.3s.”

McConkey is forecast to give Herbert a reliable target, particularly on the inside, where the Chargers lost Keenan Allen, trading the veteran in March because of salary cap constraints.

But Hortiz also noted McConkey’s production at Georgia when lining up outside, adding that there’s “a lot of football intelligence in his play that carries over in both positions.”

Colson also has flexibility, Harbaugh explaining that his former Michigan Wolverine star can hold down either inside linebacker position. Coming off a college national championship, Colson sounded ready to keep the momentum rolling.

“I believe I’m the guy in the middle they’ve been looking for,” he said, “that guy to be able to run the defense, call the plays.”

On Saturday, the Chargers first beefed up their defensive front by selecting Justin Eboigbe of Alabama in the fourth round. They followed a round later by focusing on the back end, taking a pair of cornerbacks — Maryland’s Tarheeb Still and Notre Dame’s Cam Hart.

Eboigbe, who is 6-foot-4 and 297 pounds, offers the sort of skill set that allowed him to play throughout the Crimson Tide’s defensive line and also has an NFL-ready level of resiliency.

In 2022, he lost his brother, Trey Larenz Earl, in May and then suffered a significant neck injury in September, ending his season after four games.

Eboigbe had surgery and then started on the road back, returning in time for spring practice last year.

“It made me more appreciative,” he said. “It made me understand you got to give everything you got today because one day it will be your last and you never know.”

Still and Hart present the Chargers with potential options in a secondary that features only one proven starter in Asante Samuel Jr.

Still was one of the most productive corners in college football last season, finishing with five interceptions. He played both inside and outside for the Terrapins.

Hart went to Notre Dame as a wide receiver before switching positions his freshman year when the Fighting Irish experienced injuries at cornerback. He has the size — 6-3, 202 — and length that the Chargers covet for the position.

The Chargers finished with an offensive push, adding Troy running back Kimani Vidal in the sixth round and two wide receivers in the seventh — USC’s Brenden Rice and Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson.

Only 5-8 but weighing 213 pounds, Vidal amassed more than 4,000 yards rushing in college, Hortiz noting his ability to break tackles and, especially, his prowess as a stiff-armer.

“He’s not a tall back,” Hortiz said, “but he’s not a small back.”

Rice is the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and a player who caught the Chargers’ attention in part because of his ability to make plays down the field.

Alexander said both Rice and Johnson “have NFL bodies. They look like NFL receivers.” He also called Johnson perhaps “the best blocking receiver in the draft, certainly one of them.”

Rice took the call from the Chargers while he was out of town for a friend’s funeral. Because he was traveling afterward, Rice was unable to speak to the media.

“It was a tough one knowing what he and his family and friends were going through,” Hortiz said. “[I] certainly felt the emotion through the phone. I felt the emotion myself having to make that call.

“I know he was very excited, you know, while having to deal with the emotions he was facing. He told me when we were talking, ‘I’ve wanted to play for coach Harbaugh. I’m so excited to play for coach Harbaugh. I can’t wait.’

“He was so happy to be a Charger. To feel that, to hear that, it was a pretty cool moment for me. And I’m sure it was a great moment for him.”

Etc.

After the seventh round ended, the Chargers proceeded to sign undrafted free agents: Karsen Barnhart (G, Michigan), Casey Bauman (QB, Augustana), Luke Benson (TE, Georgia Tech), Akeem Dent (S, Florida State), Jaelen Gill (WR, Fresno State), Thomas Harper (S, Notre Dame), Zach Heins (TE, South Dakota State), Savion Jackson (OLB, North Carolina State), Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste (LB, Mississippi), Leon Johnson (WR, Oklahoma State), Jaylen Johnson (WR, East Carolina), Robert Kennedy (CB, North Carolina State), Micheal Mason (DL, Coastal Carolina), Tremon Morris-Brash (OLB, Central Florida), Tyler McLellan (OT, Campbell), Willis Patrick (G, Texas Christian), Jalyn Phillips (S, Clemson), Tyler Smith (OT, Western Carolina), Zamari Walton (CB, Mississippi), Luquay Washington (LB, Central Connecticut), Bucky Williams (C/G, Appalachian State).

For a little while in the offseason, Toronto Blue Jays fans thought they were getting arguably the most talented baseball player of all time.

Shohei Ohtani was a free agent in the winter, and rumors swirled he was en route to Toronto for a visit with the team.

It all started when it was reported by MLB Network that Ohtani’s decision on his next team was “imminent.” 

Then, a post on X, formerly Twitter, went viral that said Blue Jays’ Japanese pitcher Yusei Kikuchi made reservations for 50 people at a Toronto sushi spot. But the big bolt came when Reddit users found there was a plane from Anaheim, California, where Ohtani played the previous six seasons, on its way to Toronto.

MLB Network then reported that Ohtani was en route to Toronto, and another rumor swirled that the Blue Jays had called a press conference.

Those reports were quickly debunked, though, and Ohtani eventually stayed in southern California, switching to the Dodgers on a record-setting $700 million deal.

Ohtani made his first trip to Toronto this weekend since the plane rumors, and fans made their displeasure known by booing him intensely.

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How did he answer? By hitting a mammoth home run, of course.

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For the record, the plane in question actually belonged to Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec of “Shark Tank.”

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run during the first inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre April 26, 2024, in Toronto.  (Cole Burston/Getty Images)

The boos continued Saturday, and he answered with a base hit that left the bat at nearly 120 mph, his hardest hit ever recorded.

Entering Saturday, Ohtani was off to his best start ever offensively, hitting .354 with an MLB-leading .681 slugging percentage. He is not pitching as he recovers from elbow surgery.

He led the majors in 2023 with a .654 slugging percentage and 1.066 OPS, his .412 on-base percentage was second in the league, his 44 homers were fourth and his .304 average was ninth.

Shohei Ohtani (17) of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates at the plate with Max Muncy as he scores on a Freddie Freeman single in the third inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre April 26, 2024, in Toronto.  (Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Ohtani was also brilliant on the mound, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched. Among pitchers who threw 130.0 innings, his ERA was the ninth-lowest in MLB and his K/9 was sixth. Among AL pitchers with that number of innings, he ranked fifth and third, respectively. 

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