NFL Draft 2023: Rams Pick QB Stetson Bennett In Fourth Round

The Los Angeles Rams picked Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett with the 128th overall choice in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, which was one of the more unexpected selections. The two-time national champion will move to Los Angeles to assist Matthew Stafford and train with Sean McVay.

Bennett may have enormous disadvantages in the NFL, but his performance in college is indisputable. During the 2021 season, Bennett took over as the Bulldogs starting quarterback. He started 12 of the 14 games that season, throwing for 2,862 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. In addition, he ran for 259 yards and a score on 56 occasions.

He started each of the Bulldogs’ 15 games last year, helping them win another championship. During the 2022 season, Bennett passed for 4,127 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He ran the ball 57 times for 205 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, which are very outstanding stats.

Stetson Bennett NFL Draft Profile

Position: Quarterback
School: Georgia
Year: Redshirt Senior height and weight: 5’11” and 192 lbs.
Length: 28 7/8″
Hand: 10″

 Stetson Bennett’s Scouting Report

Bennett’s height and weight are finalized by the combine, but they are recorded as 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, which are obviously far from the ideal physique for a modern quarterback.

Bennett’s size may be compared to Brock Purdy’s, who at the 2017 combine weighed 212 pounds and stood almost 6 inches tall. Bennett is small compared to other quarterbacks in the NFL.

He is ranked as the tenth-best quarterback in this draft by Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, behind Malik Cunningham but before fellow Heisman contender Max Duggan.

Zierlein claims that one NFC executive doesn’t see Bennett starting anytime soon or ever. He has trouble with small windows, occasionally crosses the middle like a hospital, and occasionally has poor timing.

The age aspect, which you’ve obviously heard about since Bennett firmly established himself as Georgia’s starting quarterback last season, is another consideration. He will turn 26 in October. During the Bulldogs’ crushing of TCU in the national championship game, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk provided this pearl of wisdom.

Why is his age relevant? The (reasonable) thinking is as follows: He is far more advanced than 99.99% of his opponents at Georgia this season in every way, yet he is only 25. Bennett’s potential at the next level is further constrained by his age because, during the 2022–23 season, he mostly played against players between the ages of 18 and 22 rather than preparing, competing, and honing his skills against players his own age (professionals).

https://twitter.com/jontweetssports/status/1652364197248770050?s=20

Despite his advanced age, he only started 32 games in college—not 50 or more. Those starts did occur while Todd Monken, an offensive coordinator with NFL experience, was in charge of the offense.

Strengths

Mobility and athleticism
Pocket poise and navigation
Experience and toughness
Off-platform throwing ability Ability to distribute
Consistent mechanical rotation
Quick release

Areas for Improvement

Middling arm talent
Inconsistent layering and precision
Late trigger at times Mechanics under pressure
Lighter frame
Over-aged

Stetson Bennett stats

Year G Comp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
2019 4 20 27 74.1 260 9.6 9.4 2 1 172.0
2020 8 86 155 55.5 1179 7.6 6.9 8 6 128.7
2021 14 185 287 64.5 2862 10.0 10.9 29 7 176.7
2022 15 310 455 68.1 4128 9.1 9.6 27 7 160.8
Totals 41 601 924 65.0 8429 9.1 9.5 66 21 160.7

 

 

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