Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck announced his decision to transfer to the University of Miami to play for the Hurricanes. The move came with the announcement that the University of Miami would pay him $4 million for his final season of NCAA eligibility.
The huge signing was a big talking point because Beck earning that much money next season means he will likely be making more money than he would have if he had declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
How Much Money Would Carson Beck Have Been Paid in the NFL?
NFL Draft picks get guaranteed contracts based on when they are selected. The higher a player is drafted, the larger the salary they would get. Analyst Max Browne broke down how much money Beck would have made in the NFL next season, depending on where he was drafted.
He’ll be the highest ‘paid’ player in college sports history.
Breaking down the money of Carson Beck’s decision to transfer to Miami 💰🍞 pic.twitter.com/nVAtwGIGee
— Max Browne (@MaxBrowne4) January 15, 2025
“Miami is paying Carson Beck the same as a top-10 NFL Draft pick. He was unlikely to be an actual top-10 pick. If I’m Carson Beck and I declare for the NFL Draft, what are my range of outcomes? Best-case scenario, late first round. In that case, I’d make $2.5 million next year. I wouldn’t make over $4 million until the end of my rookie deal.
“But I’m not hearing feedback from scouts that make me confident I’ll go in the first round. So, I’m likely a Day 2 or 3 pick. Let’s use Spencer Rattler as the example. He was the first quarterback taken outside the first round last year. He made nearly $900,000 as a rookie, and he’s locked into just over a million a year for the next three years.”
Browne went on to compare Beck’s decision to Cam Ward, who coincidentally played for Miami this past season. Ahead of the 2023 Draft, Ward was viewed as a Day 2 pick, so he stayed in college and finished as a Heisman finalist. As a result, he will likely be a top-five pick and could sign a contract worth over $30 million.
By returning to college, Beck helps himself in two ways. He makes more this upcoming season on a NIL deal than he likely would on an entire NFL rookie deal if he fell outside of the first round. Additionally, he gets the opportunity to improve his draft stock. If he can do that, he can make his money next season, get drafted higher next season than he would this year, and sign a bigger rookie contract in the NFL.