Carson Beck looked the part of QB1 in Georgia’s romp over Clemson

Carson Beck looked the part of QB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft in Georgia’s romp over Clemson

We are a very long way from knowing how the 2025 NFL Draft position rankings will end up looking. Preseason rankings are just that: projections off prior body of work and potential upside.

Now that the first full weekend of college football is underway, we’ve got fresh data and film to evaluate. Some players failed to live up to the preseason hypefailed to live up to the preseason hype. Not Georgja quarterback Carson Beck.

If anything, Beck proved worthy of the potential QB1 offseason hype in Georgia’s 34-3 trouncing of Clemson.

Beck showed sharp accuracy, good chemistry with his Bulldog targets and an easiness and confidence in the pocket all afternoon. The stat line — 23-of-33, 278 yards, 2 TDs, 0 turnovers — is pretty impressive against what looked to be a good Clemson defense on paper. The path to getting those stats was what really stood out for Beck.

Perhaps the most important trait for an NFL prospect at quarterback is the ability to hit moving targets in perfect stride. Beck did that several times against Clemson, notably on a picture-perfevt catch-and-run touchdown connection with London Humphreys.

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Beck put that throw exactly where Humphreys needed it to turn it up the field for a touchdown. It’s got perfect touch and excellent placement out in front of Humphrey, leading the young receiver into open space and away from any defensive risk if Humphreys somehow can’t secure the catch.

Beck’s savvy at reading the defense pre-snap and overall decision-making were excellent in this 2024 Georgia debut game. He trusts what he sees, but also what he reads. Delivering perfect strikes on anticipatory throws requires more than just arm talent. It requires confidence in the pre-snap look, proper patience, and a quick, clean release and mechanics. Check, check and check for Beck against Clemson.

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Beck got sacked once, while adding 19 total rushing yards. He’ll never be confused for Jayden Daniels, but his initial quickness in dodging pressure is very impressive.

In short, Beck looked very much like a future top QB draft pick. It’s still very early, of course, but if Beck keeps churning out impressive games like he showed against Clemson, he’ll be very hard to dethrone as my QB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Where Texas’ Byron Murphy ranked among DT’s at the NFL Combine

Byron Murphy is a beast.

Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy put on a show at the 2024 NFL Combine. Continue reading “Where Texas’ Byron Murphy ranked among DT’s at the NFL Combine”

2024 NFL draft top 150 prospects: Pre-Combine edition

2024 NFL draft top 150 prospects: Pre-Combine overall rankings from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Weeks upon weeks of watching college game film, All-22 tape and more than a few games in person and the individual big board is finally taking some real shape. With the NFL Scouting Combine coming next week, it’s time to reveal the base rankings of the top 150 players I’ve evaluated for the 2024 NFL draft.

There likely won’t be any radical changes even after the combine and pro day workouts. Verifiable character issues and medical problems are about the only things that can swing prospects radically, though unexpected measurements or workout numbers can also create some later movement. Note that this is an overall ranking, not a prediction of draft order.

Without further ado, the top 150 prospects as graded entering the 2024 combine.

Several Longhorns rank Top 10 in Kiper’s NFL draft position rankings

Multiple Texas players are Top 10 draft picks at their position according to Mel Kiper.

The Texas Longhorns are set up to have one of their best draft classes for the 2024 NFL draft. The Texas class is deep and spans across several positions.

NFL draft scout and analyst Mel Kiper released his Big Board complete with Top 10 rankings for every position. The Longhorns were well represented on the list.

It takes several great players to make a College Football Playoff, so it probably comes as little to no surprise to outsiders that the veteran laden team has several draft eligible players. Last offseason Texas sent running back Bijan Robinson to the Top 10 draft picks. Another strong draft this year will make criticisms over Texas development rate lack credibility.

Here’s a look at Longhorns ranked toward the top of their positions.

Five Longhorns included in Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 NFL draft prospect rankings

NFL’s Daniel Jeremiah released his top 50 players for the 2024 NFL draft.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah is high on several Texas players for the 2024 NFL draft. Continue reading “Five Longhorns included in Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 NFL draft prospect rankings”

2024 NFL draft: Bowl season cornerback big board

2024 NFL draft: Bowl season cornerback big board from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Bowl season is starting to ramp up around the college football landscape. There have even been some interesting prospects for the 2024 NFL draft who have already played out their exhibition finales.

Up next in the positional rankings are the cornerbacks. This tends to be one of the most volatile positions over the course of a draft process, in part because athletic testing plays such a big role in how the NFL views these players as prospects.

Offensive tackles

Wide receivers (via Brennen Rupp)

 

 

 

 

Colts’ 2023 NFL draft big board: Cornerbacks

Wrapping up our positional big board rankings with the cornerbacks.

The Indianapolis Colts are ready to enter the 2023 NFL draft with a massive need to add to the cornerback position.

After trading away Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys, the room is extremely thin. Kenny Moore II and Isaiah Rodgers Sr. are currently the projected starters, but they are both in a contract year. 2022 undrafted free agent Dallis Flowers is currently third on the depth chart.

Fortunately for the Colts, this draft is littered with talent at the cornerback position. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if they used two of their picks to add depth and competition to the room.

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It would be best to avoid adding to the room on Day 2 if they can, and there are some promising Day 3 prospects to consider. But using a Day 2 pick on a linebacker would seem a bit luxurious unless the prospect is far and away the highest-rated player on their board.

As we break down the prospects by round, think of the “rounds” as tiers and when I believe the team should begin to consider drafting them.

We also created big boards at the following positions:

Quarterbacks Running Backs Wide Receivers Tight Ends Interior OL Offensive Tackles
Defensive Tackles Edge Rushers Linebackers Cornerbacks Safeties

Here’s a look at my big board for the cornerbacks as it relates to the Colts in the 2023 NFL draft:

Texas’ Roschon Johnson is Chris Simms’ No. 3 RB in 2023 NFL draft

Roschon Johnson is creating buzz as a day two pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms has high praise for Texas running back Roschon Johnson ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. Continue reading “Texas’ Roschon Johnson is Chris Simms’ No. 3 RB in 2023 NFL draft”

Combining and ranking the last three first round quarterback classes

A look at the QBs from the last three first-round classes and what respective grade we would give them if they all came out in the same year

Every year the quarterbacks are highlighted in a particular draft which is absolutely justified given their importance within the league as the most impactful position in the NFL. The last three years have given us a handful of prospects that were selected in the first round, and today we look at all of them coming out of college and what respective grades we would give them if they all came out in the same year.

Here are our rankings: