By Patrick Weider
Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe declared for the NFL Draft this past week. Beck at Georgia and Milroe at Alabama have both had tremendous success at both schools, but they both struggled this past season. They each had one more year of eligibility and could have returned to their respective schools or transferred to another school using the portal. Below, we will discuss the pros and cons of both of their decisions to go pro.
Carson Beck, Georgia
Beck’s Background: Beck was a 4-star commit who signed with Georgia after originally being committed to Alabama earlier in the recruiting process. After spending two years as a backup, Beck became the starter last season. He had an excellent season leading Georgia to a 13-1 record with their only loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship, throwing for a 72% completion percentage on the year and 24 touchdowns to 6 interceptions.
This year, after losing tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Ladd McConkey to the NFL Beck was not able to have the same success. He slipped to a 67% completion percentage and 12 interceptions. Beck went into the season considered as the top quarterback for many NFL Draft evaluators, but his struggles hurt his stock.
Beck’s best trait: First, looking at his film from 2023 vs. 2024 is striking. The 2023 film is way better, so he has the potential to play at a higher level after taking a step back this year. His best trait is his arm. He has a strong arm and can make every throw. He can throw in-breaking routes or deeper out-routes very well. He also knows how to put good touch on the ball. Now a lot of this is based on last year’s film, but he has the potential of a good quarterback at the next level. His accuracy was excellent in 2023 as he was able to set his feet and constantly deliver a good football. In the 2024 season, he got into some bad habits.
Areas of improvement: His footwork and his decision-making were lacking most of 2024. He was not a confident passer of the football this season. Sometimes it was sloppy footwork and sometimes it was awful decision-making. It was his interceptions, which were terrible, it was also the lack of ability to throw the same accurate ball. Now Georgia losing Bowers and McConkey hurt him, and their offensive line struggled most of the year, but most NFL Draft Evaluators had high hopes for him this season and he fell flat. Beck did have his moments too, like a fantastic performance against Tennessee, but that was the exception, not the rule.
Where will he be drafted: Right now, he projects as a day 2 pick. I quite frankly think it is a mistake for him to come out this year, but with a good pre-draft process, he could climb up NFL draft boards. NFL evaluators just have to ask why he struggled this season.
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Jalen Milroe Alabama
Milroe’s Background: Jalen Milroe was a 4-star prospect who originally committed to Texas until he later signed with Alabama. After backing up Bryce Young for 2021 and 2022, he came into the 2023 season in the mix for the starting quarterback position. Milroe started the season as the starter but was demoted after the Texas loss where he threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions. Then after a poor performance by Alabama against UCF with Tyler Buchner starting, they turned to Milroe the rest of the year as the starting quarterback.
Milroe helped Alabama win the rest of their games and finished the season by beating Georgia in the 2023 SEC Championship game, before losing to the eventual National Champions Michigan in the Rose Bowl and playoff Semifinals. He had a productive season, completing 66% of his passes 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Milroe also rushed for 531 yards in the year.
After the season, Nick Saban retired and Kalen DeBoer replaced him. Milroe was again the Alabama starting quarterback. He had some special games for Alabama this year, including against Georgia, where he threw for 374 yards and rushed for 117 yards. However, Milroe finished his Alabama career on a low moment struggling against Oklahoma in the 2nd to last game of the year and the Bowl Game when Alabama lost to Michigan.
Milroe’s Best Trait: Milroe is a physical and dynamic runner as a quarterback. This past season he rushed for over 700 yards in the year. He had three games where he rushed for over 100 yards, including 185 yards against LSU. With the NFL further embracing running quarterbacks, Milroe should have a chance to develop into a capable starting quarterback. Milroe also has a strong arm and does an excellent job of throwing deep balls. He has a great feel for when to put the perfect touch on the ball when he is airing it out. Milroe has some exciting tools, but he is just not even close to a finished passer.
Area of improvement: Milroe lacks accuracy as a passer and struggles with decision-making. He misses a ton of throws by either being late or inaccurate with the football. Looking at his film, the other thing that hurts him is if the defense keys on his run game and shuts it down, he struggles with constantly throwing the football. The Michigan game was a prime example. He rushed 16 times for seven yards as Michigan keyed on him as a runner. So then as a passer, he completed 50% of his passes for 192 yards. Not an impressive showing. Milroe reminds me a ton of Jalen Hurts who struggled with passing in college, but eventually developed into a competent NFL starter. Also, I think another year in College would have benefited Milroe.
Where will he be drafted: I think he is a day two draft pick, either in the 2nd or 3rd round. If he nails the Draft Process, I could see him sneaking into the end of the 1st round. Milroe has some tools but needs to develop as more of a complete passer.
