Daniel Jeremiah: Carson Beck 'reminds me of Eli Manning coming out of Ole Miss'

As evaluators around the NFL begin to look at the 2025 draft class, Carson Beck makes a strong case to be the top quarterback off the board. The Georgia star found a groove in his first year as the starter in 2023 and appears poised to take a leap forward this season after returning to Athens.

Beck showcased his ability to make plays from the pocket a year ago, and it’s part of the reason scouts are so high on him. He’s also generating some buzz as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate and came in as a first team All-SEC selection after Media Days this week.

In fact, NFL.com analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah compared Beck’s game to a young Eli Manning. There were a few factors in that comparison, but his pocket presence is what led Jeremiah to see the parallels to Manning.

“Beck was measured by scouts in the spring at 6-3 7/8 and 233 pounds. Considering his size, talent and play style, he reminds me of Eli Manning coming out of Ole Miss,” Jeremiah wrote. “Like Manning, Beck excels from the pocket and plays to his size.

“Eli was a little underappreciated during his career, but he won his first title with a good rushing attack in an offense that required him to make plays in key moments. I see a similar trajectory for Beck at Georgia.”

Manning was a first team All-SEC honoree during his final season at Ole Miss before going No. 1 overall in the 20024 NFL Draft. He spent his entire career with the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls – both over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots – and making four Pro Bowl appearances.

Carson Beck: ‘I love pressure situations’

Beck completed 72.4% of his passes last year for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns after taking over for Stetson Bennett. Along with his All-SEC honors, he enters 2024 as a Heisman Trophy favorite and ESPN’s Matt Miller said he could go No. 1 overall in the draft.

Expectations are even higher for Beck this year after his performance down the stretch in 2023. He’s handling things well, though. In fact, he said he’s more than prepared to live up to the billing.

“I feel like, for me, I love pressure situations,” Beck said at the Manning Passing Academy earlier this month. “So, as much pressure as you want to put on me, I’m gonna rise to the occasion or settle back to my training. That’s what a lot of people like to say.

“But, no. Really as far as expectations and pressure go. It’s football at the end of the day, and for me, I’m just going out there and playing the sport I love.”