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Summer Scouting Series
Football Scout 365 Analyst Brandon Lundberg shares his initial insights on key draft-eligible college football players in anticipation of the 2024 college football season.
Carson Beck Overview
Carson Beck patiently waited for his turn, serving as the backup to Stetson Bennett at Georgia for three years before earning the starting role last season. Once given the opportunity, he made the most of it.
Beck guided the Bulldogs through a successful 13-1 season, establishing himself as a prominent candidate for the top college football quarterback spot heading into the 2024 season. With a remarkable combination of arm strength, pocket accuracy, and decision-making skills, he finished third in the FBS with 3,941 passing yards. The team's only loss, halting a 29-game winning streak, came in a narrow three-point defeat to Alabama during the SEC Championship Game. It was only the second game all year where Beck failed to throw a touchdown pass. Shortly after, he confirmed his return for the 2024 season.
Georgia is eager to secure their third national championship in four years, positioning them as a top contender for the title once again. Beck is among the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy, making this a potentially remarkable period for the Jacksonville, Florida native. Will his impressive performance persist? Following a thorough analysis of Beck's gameplay from the previous year, here is my preliminary scouting evaluation.
2023 Stats: Completed 302-of-417 passes (72.4% Comp. Rate) for 3,941 yards (9.4 per attempt), 24 TDs and 6 INTs; added 60 carries for 116 yards (1.9 average), 4 TDs.
Scouting Report:
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 220 lbs
Ceiling Potential: Mid-Level Starter PotentialBeck has the potential to be a solid NFL starter with the right development and fit. His polished mechanics and strong mental game provide a solid foundation for success at the next level. Given his current trajectory and skill set, he projects as a late first to early second-round pick with the potential to develop into a franchise quarterback.
Playstyle & Scheme Fit: Carson Beck is a prototypical pocket passer with a solid frame and the ability to make all the necessary throws. He thrives in an offense that emphasizes timing and rhythm, excelling in play-action situations. Beck's ability to navigate pocket pressure makes him well-suited for pro-style offenses that require precise execution. His experience in Georgia's offense, which balances run and pass, prepares him for a variety of NFL systems, though he may thrive best in a scheme that leverages his pocket awareness and play-action skills.
Player Comparisons: During the spring, scouts recorded Beck's measurements at 6-4 and 220 pounds. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah believes that Carson Beck shares similarities with Eli Manning when he was at Ole Miss, particularly in his skill to maneuver within the pocket. In one of my YouTube analysis videos, I highlighted that other scouts have drawn comparisons between Beck and Matt Ryan. Both Manning and Ryan thrived in the pocket, leveraging their physical stature to lead teams with strong rushing offenses, making crucial plays when needed. Beck's progress at Georgia indicates a promising future akin to theirs.
Key Strengths
Pocket Presence: Beck has excellent awareness in the pocket, consistently keeping his composure under pressure and finding his check downs or making plays downfield.
Accuracy: He demonstrates impressive accuracy on short to intermediate throws, with a knack for placing the ball where only his receivers can make a play.
Rhythm-Based Passer: Beck excels in timing routes and has a quick release, which helps in a rhythm-based passing offense. His ability to hit receivers in stride is a significant asset.
Where he excels: Beck possesses the ideal size and arm strength for his position. His quick and compact release, along with a solid base, allows him to deliver the ball with power and accuracy. I observed his ability to effectively use anticipation, velocity, and precise ball placement to thread the ball into tight windows. While he demonstrates athleticism to gain extra yards when opportunities arise, he primarily focuses on reading his progressions and operating from the pocket.
Key Weaknesses
Pressured Throws: Beck will need to improve his ability to make plays from the pocket when facing pressure.
Layered Throws: Throws can come out flat at times allowing underneath defenders the opportunity to make a play on the football.
Progressions: Beck thrives when he is in rhythm but sometimes has issues post-snap when his initial read is off the table.
Improvement Areas: Looking ahead to the 2024 season, there are key areas where Beck needs to show improvement to solidify his status as a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The biggest issue for Beck is his accuracy when he’s moved off his spot. He has good pocket presence, but his accuracy suffers when he has to move, reset, and deliver the ball.
Another area to watch is the tendency for his passes to get a little flat at times. Improving his ability to layer his throws will be a key area to watch for in 2024. A flat throw on those types of passes can allow underneath defenders to tip the ball, which could lead to turnovers and is a tendency that SEC defenses will look to exploit.
Advanced-Data And Statistics
In terms of advanced data, Beck faced the second-lowest pressure rate based on total passing snaps in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. However, when pressured, his adjusted completion rate was 61%, ranking 53rd among all QBs in 2023 with at least 50 pressured pass attempts. When kept clean, his adjusted completion rate jumped to 81% with an average of 9.9 yards per attempt. Beck's overall time to throw in 2023 was 2.4 seconds, indicating his ability to process information quickly. He was most efficient when getting the ball out in under 2.5 seconds, with an adjusted completion rate of 87%.
In 2023, Beck threw for nearly 4,000 yards with 24 touchdown passes to only six interceptions, ranking seventh nationally in QB rating. His efficiency and ability to take care of the football were notable. Beck was accurate at all three levels and rated elite at both deep and intermediate throws. The intermediate area, the most translatable to the NFL level, accounted for 37% of his total passing yards. He posted the sixth-best adjusted completion rate from the mid-range, according to Pro Football Focus, and received the 10th-highest grade from the intermediate level among all players with at least 100 pass attempts.
Current Draft Projection and Summary Analysis
2025 NFL Draft Projection: Carson Beck is the current favorite to be the QB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is currently being mocked as high as the top 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Summary Analysis: Beck could have transferred earlier in his career, but he chose to wait his turn for three seasons before winning the starting job last season. I believe his patience is about to be rewarded. He has all the tools to be a top draft pick, and the talent around him should lead to a deep postseason run for the Bulldogs. The SEC is stacked, but I came away very impressed with the overall depth and talent of the Georgia roster. Beck is easily the most talented UGA passer since Matthew Stafford departed after the 2008 season, and I can’t wait to study his play this fall.