MARLER: Carson Beck made the right move

By Chris Marler

When Jalen Milroe declared for the NFL Draft, my boss commented that he got bad information. I responded that if someone was bold enough to take Anthony Richardson that early, then someone will surely take Jalen Milroe in the first round—not because of what they’ve seen on tape, but because of what will captivate scouts at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

My boss’s point wasn’t about getting paid by a team making a reach in the first round. His point was that, in this new NIL era of college football, Milroe could have returned, earned millions through endorsements, and added more value to his draft stock.

He’s right. It’s one of the reasons Carson Beck’s decision to return for another year of college football—and to do so in Coral Gables instead of Athens—is brilliant.

Much of Carson Beck’s decision has been discussed through the lens of social media memes and the fan-driven Twitterverse. Linking his choice solely to his girlfriend, TikTok star Hanna Cavinder, has provided fun fodder for the lowbrow side of the story. However, the bigger picture should be clear—Beck made the best decision for both his immediate future and his long-term outlook.

He’s following a blueprint similar to Cam Ward’s, and we saw how that worked out. Ward, who was putting up great numbers at Washington State, initially considered entering the draft. At the time, most NFL analysts and scouts projected him as a second- to fourth-round pick. Instead, he transferred to Miami, secured around $1 million in NIL funds, and is now considered a first-round lock in April’s draft, with some analysts projecting him as a potential top-five pick.

Beck could do just that. Beck was considered a first round talent before the season, but struggles throughout the year were highlighted during SEC play. He finished the year with 12 interceptions, including three games with three or more.

While he was surrounded by plenty of talent in Athens, he played behind a patchwork offensive line plagued by injuries and worked with a receiving corps that led the nation in drops with 59. Beck also finished the season with the eighth-highest percentage of throws behind the line of scrimmage at 26.5%. Even worse, his backup, Gunner Stockton, led the country in that category at 32.8%.

He’ll head to Miami and join an offense that led the nation in scoring (43.9 points per game) and total yards (537.2 yards per game). The Hurricanes also ranked third nationally in passing offense, averaging 348.2 yards per game, while Cam Ward led the country in passing touchdowns with 39.

Perhaps most importantly, the competition Beck will face is a significant drop-off from what he encountered at Georgia. Beck faced six ranked opponents in 13 games this season. Miami, by comparison, played just two ranked teams all year. Additionally, the SEC featured eight teams ranked in the top 50 nationally in pass defense, while the ACC had only one.

Lost in all of this is the financial side of it. Beck is rumored to have an NIL deal with Miami worth around $4 million. To put that into perspective, Will Levis and Brock Purdy—two NFL starters—earned $3,319,793 this season. Combined. Staying another year to make $4 million while boosting his NIL value and enhancing his future NFL draft stock is exactly the kind of opportunity we should want for all athletes.

So yes, Carson Beck should thrive in South Beach—and not just because he’ll be closer to his girlfriend.