Money talks! And NIL just put Georgia on a complete mute. Carson Beck packed his bags, grabbed a cool $4 million, and took his talents to Miami, leaving Bulldog fans in shock. And get this—his NIL deal even dwarfs what some NFL quarterbacks are making. Crazy, right? College football used to be the minor leagues, but now it’s stealing the show. And loyalty? That’s just a fancy way of saying “show me the money” in this new era.

Well, let’s come straight to the point. Talking about this hefty NIL deal, PSU’s legend Adam Breneman hits IG, saying, “11 starting quarterbacks in the NFL got paid less than Carson Beck. That’s insane. How is that even possible? Well, in 2023 transfer quarterback started 53% of all FBS football games. A number gets higher every single year, and in 2024 63% of power four quarterbacks had transferred at one point in their career. More than half of quarterbacks you see on TV have transferred. They’re transferring because of one thing, big time, money.” Now Beck’s not the only one who’s part of the $4 million club; even Duke’s fresh transfer portal win, Darian Mensah’s NIL is turning more heads.

However, in the case of Carson Beck, he didn’t simply avoid the NFL Draft; he completely rejected it in favor of a $4 million payout by joining Miami. Despite having a season with ups and downs, where he struggled against strong defenses, the market still regarded him as the top player. The figures aren’t just big; they’re mind-blowing when you compare to the NFL. Beck’s NIL deal is reportedly worth $4.2 million, Arch Manning’s hits a ridiculous $6.5 million, while even Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix is only at $1.8 million. And here is a fun fact: 2023’s second overall pick, C.J. Stroud, will earn $1 million in 2025 — $3 million less than Beck. Even with a $37.5 million four-year contract, Jayden Daniels’ base salary in 2025 is just $1.5 million.

Moreover, if Beck’s deal raised questions, then Darian Mensah’s contract has completely stunned everyone. As a freshman, he just got $8 million to transfer from Tulane to Duke. Yes, his stats are fine with 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns, but that amounts to $4 million per year from a program that isn’t even considered prominent in football. Meanwhile, NFL teams are still negotiating lower salaries for mid-tier quarterbacks.

This is more than a change; it’s an outright hostile takeover. College sports now resemble free agency, as freshmen earn more than NFL veterans and transfers receive NBA-level contracts. But it looks like, despite a lucrative NIL deal, Carson Beck’s future looks shaky.

Carson Beck’s NFL hopes are unclear

Well, Carson Beck’s name is perpetually in the news, regardless of his presence on the field. Now his former teammate and wide receiver Arian Smith just put on a show at the Senior Bowl, and one Georgia alum couldn’t help but point out the contrast. Highlighting Smith’s key fourth-quarter reception that kept the drive alive, Keneely subtly disparaged Carson Beck’s performance, saying, “Every time Arian Smith makes a play during this Senior Bowl reminds me how Carson Beck would never throw anything but line drives. He’s finally working with better quarterbacks this week and is back to making plays like he was with Stetson Bennett.” 

Moreover, Kevin Keneely’s comment sliced through Georgia’s fanbase like a precise, swift pass. Highlighting Arian Smith’s Senior Bowl success and suggesting Beck hindered him at Georgia ignited a debate. Certain fans supported Beck, arguing that Georgia’s system didn’t highlight Smith’s abilities effectively. People fondly remembered the 5’11″ “Mailman” hitting Smith with deep passes during their back-to-back title runs. Either way, the discussion shoved Carson Beck’s impact under the microscope at the worst possible time—right as he pushes to solidify his NFL draft stock for next year.

But let’s not forget Carson Beck’s numbers reveal his true story. The guy who started hot but lost his edge under pressure. Starting 2023 with an impressive passing efficiency, he completed 72.4% of his passes for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns against only 6 interceptions, making him a top national passer. But this season Beck’s performance saw a drop in completion rate to 64.7%, a decrease in passing yardage to 3,485, and 12 interceptions—alongside Georgia’s three losses (their highest number since 2018)—raised questions about his potential. Now let’s just wait and see if Carson Beck’s gameplay can shut down these jabs or not!