ESPN Draft Insider Mel Kiper Has a Big Take on Carson Beck and Shedeur Sanders

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ATHENS - When ESPN’s draft insider Mel Kiper Jr. was asked which quarterback he had at the top the of 2025 NFL Draft, he gave this answer:

“It’s between Carson Beck and Shedeur Sanders.”

Beck, now in his second season as UGA Football’s starting quarterback, is projected to be the first quarterback taken in the next draft according to most major draft sources. Kirby Smart has had three former starting quarterbacks drafted to the NFL if you count Jacob Eason as well, and Beck is on track to be the first one taken on night one of the draft. 

In Kiper’s guest segment on ESPN’s Get Up on Tuesday, he broke down why he thinks Beck and Colorado’s quarterback Sanders will battle it out this season to be the QB1 of the draft. He spoke on Beck’s development as a big key for his status.

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“Carson Beck was 234 on the big board coming out of high school when they ranked him, right. 22 quarterbacks were ranked ahead of Carson Beck,” Kiper said. “Look where he is now. He developed, he watched, he sat, he learned.”

NFL organizations typically want to select quarterbacks that prove they can get better and Beck is one of college football’s best examples of patience and development. Not many players wait four years at one school for a chance to start anymore. 

Something Beck showed was one of his best traits in his first season as a starter was his efficiency. He was tied for fourth in completion percentage in 2023. 

“He was at 72% last year, completion percentage, off to a good start with that strong second half against Clemson this past week,” Kiper said. 

Kiper mentioned Sanders’ toughness as one of his best traits and that he’d be right up there with Beck “vying for the QB1 spot.”After his top two, Kiper mentioned Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Miami’s Cam Ward as players behind them with first round potential. 

Sanders had better numbers than Beck in week one. Going for over 400 yards and four touchdowns is something he will have the chance to do often in that offense, and having a premier weapon like Travis Hunter helps. 

So far, Beck is one of the only quarterbacks that have been tested by a tough defense, assuming Clemson’s season goes up from here. Both Sanders and Beck will play in primetime slots in big matchups this season, but Beck will likely have the advantage of playing more games in December and January. 

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