After Georgia quarterback Carson Beck declared for the 2025 NFL Draft Saturday, analyst Todd McShay started reaching out to his NFL contacts, trying to get a read on the situation.
What he found might not bode well for Beck.
Beck, 23, started for the Bulldogs the past two seasons but had this season cut short by an elbow injury he suffered in the SEC Championship against Texas. He underwent surgery last week to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm and is expected to make a full recovery.
Although college stars always do their homework before declaring for the draft, to determine whether they should make the leap, McShay said everyone he talked to thinks Beck made a mistake.
“Carson Beck made a bad decision to leave early,” McShay said Monday on The Ringer’s The McShay Show podcast. “I texted a bunch of guys in the league, GMs former GMs, scouts. One scout wrote back to me, a 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 many of us expected him to play to. I just don’t know that he’s ready. Why wouldn’t you take this time, rehab in the offseason, come back with a better supporting cast. They’ve got a lot of young wide receivers … their offensive line will be better. They’ll be more balanced.”
As for Beck’s NFL Draft prospects, he’s widely expected to go in the second or third round. McShay feels he might have improved his value with another season at Georgia.
“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,” McShay said.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.