Georgia held their pro day to showcase their draft eligible prospects for NFL scouts ahead of April’s draft.
The pro day gave scouts and some coaches attendance the opportunity to see up close their elite talents such as edge rusher Nolan Smith, defensive tackle Jalen Carter, and tight end Darnell Washington.
Of course, one man received the spotlight who has not had much discussion on his NFL future: Stetson Bennett.
Bennett quarterbacked the Bulldogs to two consecutive national championships under coach Kirby Smart and attended the Heisman Trophy presentation last December. The Bulldogs signal caller threw for 4,128 yards and 27 touchdowns while adding an additional 200 yards and 10 scores on the ground while the Bulldogs mowed down both the SEC and the rest of the country.
His diminutive frame at 5-11 and 190 pounds has him firmly in the Day 3 discussion and some maturity concerns, with a recent arrest for public intoxication in Dallas, have people wondering if Bennett will be drafted at all.
Houston has been awarded an additional compensatory draft pick due to the low number of such picks awarded in this year’s draft.
Here’s the explanation for why they gained the 259th overall pick. pic.twitter.com/I0MD2ImesI
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) March 9, 2023
Recently, the Houston Texans were awarded the 259th overall pick as part of the NFL’s compensatory selection formula and it will serve as the last pick in the draft. Last year, the San Francisco 49ers turned the very same selection into Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy who helped guide them to the NFC Championship Game.
This begs an interesting question of if Houston could do the same with Bennett.
Bennett is a similar size to projected second overall pick Bryce Young and gained a reputation at Georgia for his hard work on the scout team and a mastery of the playbook despite lack of practice reps early in his career. He originally had to transfer to junior college before getting a true opportunity to play for his dream school.
Stetson Bennett IV went from Baker Mayfield on the Georgia scout team in 2017 to the most legendary quarterback in Georgia history.
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) January 10, 2023
Bennett’s production profile was amongst the best in the country last year and he only threw seven interceptions despite attempting 455 passes against some of the nation’s best defenses.
A quarterback that protects the ball and can get a firm grasp for offensive concepts with little practice is exactly what teams look for in backup quarterbacks. Someone who won’t lose you the game and, on a good day, may just put the team in position to win it,
Bennett’s stock has been falling ever since his decision to forego the Senior Bowl in February. It could present a great opportunity for DeMeco Ryans to find his own Brock Purdy in Houston and a very cheap backup while they try to assemble a winning roster.
