What a wild ride it has been for Carson Beck over the last calendar year. A potential first-round selection a year ago, Beck gave the college circuit an additional year. With six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the decision made sense on draft day.
But, a year onwards, the bet on himself looks far from the right decision. During the course of the season, an admittedly worse Georgia Bulldogs offense than usual has done no favors for Beck — nor has he elevated the team.
Instead, the season might be remembered for Beck’s interception-heavy games (three each against Alabama, Florida, and Texas) rather than his highlights. But the situation went from bad to worse for Beck this past Saturday.
During the final play of the first half in the SEC Championship Game against Texas, Beck faced heavy pressure and was tackled by Trey Moore on a Hail Mary attempt, eventually ruling it a fumble. The immediate aftermath made it clear that something was very wrong.
How Will Carson Beck’s Injury Affect His 2025 NFL Draft Stock?
For a few minutes, No. 15 lay motionless on the ground. Eventually, he was taken off the field and miraculously returned for a single snap, a handoff to Trevor Etienne, but didn’t see any other action.
A UCL injury, which might require offseason surgery, is the official verdict in a statement put out by the Bulldogs. With Beck’s draft stock already plummeting after a less-than-ideal season, the injury will make matters worse.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the injury likens back to the one Brock Purdy suffered in the 2023 NFC Championship Game. The injury put Purdy out for the entire offseason, requiring surgery.
Since coming back, Purdy has been statistically mind-blowing, even garnering MVP buzz last season as the San Francisco 49ers made it to the Super Bowl and lost in overtime.
But, in the present, the situation is bleak for the fifth-year Bulldogs QB. Breer believes that the blow, especially coming on Beck’s throwing arm, is going to result in a heavy hit once the draft comes around.
If Beck is able to rattle off a Purdy-esque comeback, then any team taking the chance on him would be more than happy.
In Pro Football Network’s most recent 7-Round NFL Mock Draft, Beck went 98th overall to the Miami Dolphins. However, that was before the injury, which could push him further down the board.
With teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and the New York Giants all in the market for a quarterback, Beck could be a low-risk, high-reward option later on in the draft. With comparisons to the Purdy injury already on display, perhaps another Mr. Irrelevant story is on the horizon.