There’s a chance that former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett IV could go undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. But it has nothing to do with his playing abilities on the gridiron. It’s about his off-the-field issues, including his 29 January arrest.
Strong Possibility Stetson Bennett Goes Undrafted in 2023 NFL Draft
Bennett’s Arrest Justifies Caution
Stetson Bennett could go undrafted because of his arrest on Jan. 29 for public intoxication, among other pre-draft issues. Bennett has been fighting an uphill battle his entire career. Announcers told his miraculous story over and over again during many of his games at Georgia. But in this case, the two-time National Champion has not helped himself by making the hill even steeper of a climb.
The NFL is a league of professionals, but particularly even more so at the quarterback position, where league officials feel “the shield” is represented the most. Whether any of the league looks at Bennett as their future franchise quarterback is uncertain, but what is certain, however, is that they definitely will not view him in any part of the league if he has more instances like his arrest.
The released police cam footage is not a good representation whatsoever for Bennett. He appears heavily intoxicated, not compliant towards police officers, and continually uses foul language. Not exactly what many teams are looking for in their starting quarterbacks — if Bennett is even being considered for that role. But is there a role left at all now?
Bennett Is Living Off College Career
For teams that were already on the fence about drafting Bennett because of his age, size and minimal athleticism, his disruptions with the law will directly keep coaching staffs from even thinking about drafting the 25-year-old. Not to mention that in a recent report he did not receive, “universally high remarks on combine interviews.”
As seen just recently (positively, too) with Anthony Richardson, what happens at the NFL Combine can completely change a quarterback’s future. Bennett’s trajectory has gone the opposite way, making it a possibility Stetson Bennett goes undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Richardson’s perception as a potential starting NFL quarterback has positively changed all within a couple months, all because of the Combine. His college career — which was subpar — seems to be entirely in the rear view, while his Combine work has garnered him potential at the next level.
Stetson Bennett could go undrafted because all he has to live on is his college career to dictate his future. Everything after has been damaging.
Bennett’s Option For Backup Even Looks Slim Now
It seemed as if Stetson Bennett could have at least been looking at being drafted as a backup for some team, perhaps the Baltimore Ravens, where his former Georgia offensive coordinator is now coaching. But now Stetson Bennett could be undrafted entirely.
The NFL cannot take the quarterback position lightly. Teams live and die on the man behind center, even if he might be a back up. It’s the one position, however, that teams and general managers are willing to stake their reputations on because they know if they can strike gold, they can win and keep their jobs.
Geno Smith with the Seattle Seahawks exemplified this last season after taking over for Russell Wilson. He took the Seahawks to the playoffs last season and was then able to sign a new three-year, $75M contract. Baker Mayfield has even made something of a resurgence after losing his starting job with the Cleveland Browns, watching the Browns trade him to the Carolina Panthers, then braving the Panthers cutting him. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely make him their starter for the 2023 season.
Bennett could not be in the NFL at all in 2023.
Main Image: Trevor Ruszkowski – USA TODAY Sports
