The writing was on the wall, and it’s now been set in stone. Carson Beck has played his last-ever snap in college football. As hyperbolic as this may have seemed a fortnight ago, it’s the brutal reality. The Georgia QB1 went down with an elbow injury on his throwing arm during the SEC Championship Game against Texas. An attempt at a Hail Mary to the end-zone at the cusp of halftime transpired into a season-ending surgery. As a result, he has officially declared for the NFL Draft.

Carson Beck announced this decision in the early hours of Saturday, December 28, via his Instagram. In a heartfelt goodbye, he acknowledged UGA, his coaches, and the Bulldogs’ faithful for their support in his collegiate journey. There were certain factions floating the idea of Beck entering the portal instead, perhaps as a replacement for Cam Ward at Miami. But those rumors have been firmly put to bed. Beck will join Ward on the draft board come April.

This decision presents as a bit of a revelation now, owing to a perilous 2024 season for Beck individually. His second season as a starter for Kirby Smart’s Dawgs didn’t quite trend upward. However, a future in the NFL for Carson Beck was almost blanket wisdom a year ago. His arm talent, saving the injury and rendering it deficient, is irrefutable.

Before the untimely ceasing of his senior year, Beck had seemingly been resolving his turnover troubles from earlier. During a stretch of 6 games from late September to mid-November, he threw 12 picks in half as many games. His perceived draft stock inadvertently took a hit. Performances in the CFP were necessitated to bolster his flailing capital among the scouts and the powers that be. Unfortunately, that opportunity didn’t arrive. Carson Beck ended his last year in CFB with 3,485 air yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 INTs. So now that he, and by extension, the football sphere, have clarity about his foray into the NFL, what’s the decree of his prospects?

As it stands, it’s difficult to discern just where Roger Goodell will take his name on draft night. With how the pieces have fallen on both rungs of the football ladder, it would appear QBs aren’t as desired this year. Barring a couple of teams seeking a franchise savior under center, not too many quarterbacks are expected to be picked on Day 1. This circumstance mirrors last season, which saw the most QBs picked in round 1 in draft history. It sure doesn’t help that Beck’s season lacked vim. However, there’s an important context that fans may fail to acknowledge, but the scouts and GMs won’t.

External factors played a part in Carson Beck’s failure to build upon last season

Carson Beck is perhaps not a force-multiplier of the highest ilk who can accentuate skill-position guys around him. Only a handful of humans in the world are in that echelon. He’s also been spearheading arguably the weakest offensive unit of the Kirby Smart era in terms of personnel. Both things are true, which adds nuance to how Beck is assessed.

The 2024 iteration of the Georgia roster is a far cry from previous seasons. Relative to the program’s own standards, the ancillary weapons are a notch below the likes of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. Before the duo turned pro, Carson Beck was perceived to be a better prospect. His downturn can be attributed to a lack of potency around him. Georgia infamously has the most dropped catches across the FBS this season.

Beck cannot be absolved for turning over the football at a high clip. A football savant-like him will likely be the first person to acknowledge his shortcomings. That is now a thing of the past, as he’ll swiftly pivot to preparation for the draft. Adversity can often lead you down paths that appear treacherous but are a blessing in hindsight. Carson Beck will hope this injury, and the season as a whole didn’t hamper his NFL dream. The Georgia Bulldogs will continue their traversal through to the Natty in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame.