Entering the final stages of the 2024 regular season, Carson Beck seemed like an assured NFL Draft first-rounder, as the quarterback took the Georgia Bulldogs to an 11-2 record this year. However, after sustaining an elbow injury during a hit in the SEC Championship Game against Texas earlier this month, Beck underwent UCL surgery on his throwing arm on Dec. 23. The timeline for his return is now expected to extend into the spring of 2025.
After many preseason mock drafts projected Beck to be picked on Day 1, the uncertainty that Beck is now facing has led to speculation about whether the QB is truly ready for the NFL.
Analyst Breaks Down Why Carson Beck’s Declaration for Draft Is a Mistake
After Beck announced on Instagram on Dec. 28 that he would forgo his remaining year of eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft, some have been skeptical about the decision, including Todd McShay.
On his eponymous show on Dec. 30, the analyst said: “Carson Beck made a bad decision to leave early. I texted a bunch of guys in the league… GMs, former GMs, scouts. One scout wrote back to me, one-word answer, ‘foolish’.
“I thought he got better late in the season, as I said, but I don’t think he’s there yet. Played great in certain moments. I thought he played better late in the season, but he never, this year, played to the level that we, many of us, expected him to play to.”
"Carson Beck made a bad decision to leave early." —@McShay13
Here's the full breakdown of the Georgia QB's decision to enter the NFL draft on 'The McShay Show'. pic.twitter.com/t23akE1FK9
— The Ringer (@ringer) December 30, 2024
The 2024 campaign has been shaky for the QB. In the middle of the season, he had a five-game route where he threw 11 interceptions, which began with the team’s first loss of the year to Alabama (41-34), and then Georgia suffered its second loss against Ole Miss (28-10).
However, Beck found his rhythm again in the final weeks of the regular season, without any interceptions, and his draft stock steadily rose again.
However, the expectations he brought with him from the 2023 season did not translate exactly as hoped in 2024. Given his recent injury, McShay remained doubtful about Beck’s draft stock.
“I just don’t know that he’s ready. Why wouldn’t you take this time, rehab in the offseason?” McShay said. “Come back (to Georgia) with a better supporting cast. They got a lot of young wide receivers. I know they’ve recruited well at wide receiver from what I can tell. Their offensive line will be better. They’ll be more balanced.
“Is he as ready as he would be had he gone back for one more year at Georgia? And everyone I talked to, and my personal opinion, is he’s not going to be.”
Beck finished the regular season with 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In the SEC Championship Game where he sustained the injury, the QB exited in the second quarter but returned for an overtime play, which was a game-winning pass to Trevor Etienne in overtime.
With that victory, the Bulldogs gained a first-round bye and punched their direct ticket to the quarterfinals, where they will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 1.
