Matt Hayes argues it’s none other than Carson Beck, who, according to Hayes, is much closer to being seen as an elite prospect for the NFL draft than we might expect.
Finally, there’s Beck, who 2 NFL scouts told SDS has a Day 1 grade for the 2024 NFL Draft, and could move as high as top 10 overall. If he leaves for the NFL and Raiola signs with Nebraska, Georgia’s quarterback room is suddenly in disarray.
Georgia also has redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton on scholarship, and has a commitment in the 2024 class from 4-star Ryan Puglisi.
“Once (Beck) gets to the Combine, once he throws at Georgia’s Pro Day, once he interviews face to face, he’ll knock it out the park,” an NFL scout told SDS. “He already has elite arm talent and good tape. Once he gets on a grease board and you can see his elite knowledge of the game, forget it. He’ll be the 3rd (quarterback) taken.”
Georgia, 2 different sources told SDS, has been working on a 2024 NIL compensation package for Beck since late October.
That last sentence isn’t in doubt, but the scope of the proposal is a different story.
Beck’s NIL compensation package more than likely needs to be at least the same amount (or more than) he’d earn for an annual salary in his 1st year in the NFL — not the the entirety of the rookie contract he signs.
In other words, last year’s No. 10 overall pick (Bears OT Darnell Wright) signed a deal worth $20.9 million — with a 1st-year salary cap number of $3.8 million.
“Needs” is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but nearly $4 million is some real money you’re talking about there. (It’s times like these when I can’t help but wonder what Greg McGarity’s reaction would be to that kind of number, which is what he laid out for Richt’s last contract. But I digress.)
As if that’s not enough, Hayes goes on to note that the entire portal market for quarterbacks is on hold, waiting to see what Beck does.
One SEC coach told SDS he believes the reason there are still no firm commitments from many top quarterbacks in the portal is because everyone is waiting on Beck’s decision. But how much longer will they wait?
That means quarterbacks Will Rogers (Mississippi State), Cameron Ward (Washington State) and Dante Moore (UCLA) — elite-level players who have been in the winter transfer portal since the day it opened Dec. 4 and haven’t committed — are on hold and still available. For now.
But the longer Beck takes to make a decision, the more likelihood that 1 or a majority (or all) of the top quarterbacks available commit to other programs to avoid a mad scramble to find a home for 2024. Hence, Smart’s need for a decision from Beck.
Another SEC coach told SDS he believes if Beck leaves, other quarterbacks would then consider entering the portal for the Georgia job.
“I think you can guess what quarterback I’m talking about,” he said.
That would be Texas quarterback Arch Manning, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class who chose Texas over Georgia but is currently 3rd on the depth chart behind starter Quinn Ewers (who said in November he’s returning to Texas in 2024), and backup Maalik Murphy.
Crazy stuff, man.
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