Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV will absolutely be drafted by an NFL team this spring.
After Stetson Bennett IV plays his final game in Red and Black, the Georgia star quarterback will need to prepare for life in the NFL.
Bennett may be one win away from achieving an untouchable legacy in the college game, but he will have to claw and scratch his way onto an NFL roster. Given his run at Georgia over the last three seasons, he will get picked, but probably not until day three of the 2023 NFL Draft. He may be a 25-year-old rookie, but The Mailman delivers in the clutch and should make any room better.
Here are three franchises that should definitely take a flier on Bennett in the upcoming NFL Draft.
3 NFL teams that should take a chance on Georgia star QB Stetson Bennett IV
New Orleans Saints are uncertain at quarterback without their first-round pick
With Andy Dalton hitting free agency and Jameis Winston under contract for one more season, the New Orleans Saints are about to find themselves between a rock and a hard place at quarterback, if they are not there already. Replacing Drew Brees in the long-term was never going to be easy, but not having a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft puts the franchise in a difficult tough spot.
While this may pain certain members of Dawg Nation, including yours truly, I have always contended that Bennett will get drafted because he is Georgia’s superior version of what Ian Book was out of Notre Dame. Guess what team took a flier on the best Fighting Irish quarterback since Brady Quinn? Going to the Atlanta Falcons’ biggest rival will be odd, but he cannot play for Atlanta.
The Falcons drafting Bennett will put head coach Arthur Smith in an impossible spot, as well as potentially stunt Desmond Ridder’s growth and development under center. By going to the Saints and staying in southern climate, Bennett could achieve all of his professional potential in New Orleans. He may even get an opportunity to start a few games as a rookie if it hits the fan in NOLA.
This all comes down to if Dennis Allen is retained and if Pete Carmichael Jr. is still the coordinator.
Tennessee Titans have one more year left on Ryan Tannehill’s current contract
It may be a bit of a stretch, but if Bennett is going to achieve all that he did in Athens as a professional, the Tennessee Titans would be an outstanding landing spot for him. He would stay in the southeastern footprint, but not in the pressure cooker that would be the Falcons. Factor in Mike Vrabel being a proven head coach, and the Titans could be willing to take a flier on Bennett.
With Ryan Tannehill under contract for one more season, it remains to be seen if he gets another with Titans after that, or if Malik Willis is the long-term solution under center for them. Since Willis was not a first-round pick, pivoting off him in favor of Bennett would not be as punitive as initially thought. Keep in mind Willis transferred to Liberty because he could not beat out Bo Nix at Auburn.
Clearly, the Titans like to employ quarterbacks who can run in addition to throw. Scrambling is a key part of Bennett’s game. He may not have the arm of Willis or the athleticism of Tannehill, but he does play his best when the game requires it. A lack of situational awareness has plagued the Titans quarterback position pretty much since the late, great Steve McNair last starred for them.
Although Vrabel is a great head coach, it remains to be seen who the new general manager will be.
Kansas City Chiefs may get a different backup quarterback for Patrick Mahomes
Strictly for the State Farm ads, this needs to happen. The only way these Patrick Mahomes spots get any better is if he picks up a new co-star in the form of Stetson Bennett IV. Although Bennett’s Athenian predecessor was quite literally Jake Fromm State Farm, The Mailman delivers in the clutch. Not only that, but Andy Reid coached another Georgia quarterback legend in Aaron Murray.
But besides improving advertisements, the biggest reason the Kansas City Chiefs should take a flier on Bennett is … well, they can afford to. Bennett will never challenge Mahomes on the field, but he can help elevate the quarterback room by simply arriving in it. Furthermore, how many more years can Kansas City trust Chad Henne to be Mahomes’ backup? They will need to upgrade.
Again, Bennett does not have Mahomes’ physical traits, but he does have a certain football savvy that would not make him look like a fish out of water if inserted into an NFL game. Bennett knows how to play with great players, as well as elevate the talent around him. Ultimately, his mobility and clutch gene would make him an ideal backup for a player like Mahomes. This is not that crazy.
By backing up Mahomes, Bennett will be set for life once his playing career does come to an end.
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