Mel Kiper reacts to Carson Beck's decision to transfer to Miami: 'I couldn't be happier'

Entering the 2024 season, Carson Beck was generating buzz as a potential No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. But after an up-and-down year at Georgia, his stock fell and he’s now transferring to Miami – and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. applauded that decision.

Kiper reacted to Beck’s move, which had parallels to Cam Ward a year ago. Ward declared for the draft after his senior year at Washington State, but instead entered the transfer portal and committed to Miami. Now, he’s widely viewed as a top pick.

To Kiper, Beck could follow a similar path. That extra year of experience – not to mention learning a new system – could help him build his stock back up.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Kiper told Field Yates on First Draft. “Because decisions that players make sometimes leave you scratching your head. … When you have time to play college football, please, I’m begging you, take it. Take it. Because it doesn’t matter where you go. It’s how prepared you are for what’s going to be asked [of] you to do in the National Football League, which is going to be playing at a – this is the term – consistently high level week-in and week-out by Year 2.

“Even if you change offensive systems with different coaching staffs, consistently high level in Year 2 or goodbye, pal. So when you need to be prepared for that, play more college football. How many starts did Bo Nix have, Field?”

Beck arrives at Miami as the No. 1-ranked player to enter the portal this cycle, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. He set a new career-high with 29 touchdowns in 2024 while throwing for 3,485 yards. However, he threw for 12 interceptions, which led the SEC.

But as he gets ready to play one more year at the college level, Kiper said Beck will have the opportunity to move back up the board next year. By learning another system, he’ll be even more prepared for what comes at him at the next level.

“Carson Beck last year, going into the season, after the year was over, we’re thinking first round. It didn’t work out. You go to Miami, people say, ‘Well, okay. Now, it’s a change of scenery.’ He’s got to learn a new system. Cam Ward had to do it three times. Three different times – offense was similar when he left the lower level to Washington State, but still. You’re in different offenses, different people around you, different moving parts. And yet, you’re putting up the numbers.

“That’s why Cam Ward was even more impressive at Miami than his numbers suggest because he fit in seamlessly, and he had to adapt to all those moving parts very quickly. So for me, Carson Beck will have to do the same. … For Carson Beck, I’m thrilled that he’s going back, playing at Miami and hopefully, he can do what Cam Ward did – ascend. Remember, he dropped. Now, ascend back up the draft board in 2025.”