What is Carson Beck's NFL future after national championship loss?

"Carson Beck will catch some heat for throwing the game-ending interception last night, but his season as a whole has been a resounding success," wrote The Ringer's Todd McShay. "A year ago at this time, he was planning to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, but instead took his name out of the player pool and decided to transfer to Miami with hopes of rehabilitating his image and improving his draft stock heading into 2026. To this point, he's checked a lot of boxes."

Beck completed an above-average 72.4 percent of his passes in 2025 for 3,813 yards and tossed a career-high 30 TD passes and 12 interceptions. The solid stats during his final college season could push him up team's draft boards.

There's a shortage of grade A passers in the 2026 class. ESPN's Matt Miller gave two QBs — Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) and Oregon's Dante Moore (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) — first-round grades before the College Football Playoff semifinals. Moore has since confirmed he's returning to school.  

However, Beck's ceiling doesn't justify reaching for him in the draft. He clearly lacks the elite arm talent needed to become a franchise cornerstone. 

"His arm strength is above average at best," wrote Bleacher Report's Damian Parson in a November scouting report. "Beck lacks the requisite arm strength to drive the football into tighter throwing lanes." 

Elite QBs regularly thread the needle. Pro Football Focus credits Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, a league MVP candidate, with a league-leading 53 big-time throws this season. Big-time throws are defined as those that come on deep passes or into tight windows. 

Beck, 23, could improve his stock during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, scheduled Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis. Even then, teams should view him as a backup. His large sample size shows he doesn't have the tools it takes to be a starter in the pros.