NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid makes his stance clear on Carson Beck reversing his decision to enter the transfer portal

Hours before the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl, Carson Beck stole the spotlight. On3 reported that the Georgia quarterback was entering the transfer portal, looking for a new home for the next college football season.

Beck had originally planned on entering April's NFL draft, making the decision to remain in college and relocate even more surprising. ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid believes the choice is a smart one.

"The right move," Reid posted on X on Thursday. "Try to recapture his 2023 form. Interested to see where he lands."

Beck passed for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions this season for the Bulldogs. There was a four-game stretch from mid-October to early November that Beck threw nine interceptions, however.

Then, Beck injured his throwing elbow when letting a pass loose against Texas in the SEC Championship game last month.

Sophomore Gunner Stockton started Georgia's College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Sugar Bowl, where the Bulldogs' season was cut short by Notre Dame as Beck watched from the sideline. Beck's departure means that he won't win a national title for Georgia after taking over for Stetson Bennett in 2023.

"This is something we'd kind of been watching behind the scenes for the last week or so," 247Sports' Chris Hummer said Thursday on CBS Sports HQ. "You have to sign with an agent officially to be locked into the draft, and that had not happened up to this point for Carson Beck. As long as that hadn't happened yet, college teams were free to maybe tamper a little bit on the back end."

Why Carson Beck would stay in college rather than enter the NFL draft

Chris Hummer, a college football writer, later said that he feels a college salary for a top-end quarterback is likely similar to that of a passer taken on the second day of the draft. Miami quarterback Cam Ward made the same kind of move last year. Ward parlayed a season with the Hurricanes into what should be a favorable draft position in April.

Carson Beck, who was thought of as a possible No. 1 pick in that event, will look to do the same. Where, though, remains to be seen. Ohio State, Miami, and Texas Tech have been reported as interested parties.

"There aren't a ton of programs — at least upper-level programs — looking for quarterbacks at this point," Hummer said. "Most of those spots are filled, so it's pretty easy to play connect-the-dots. ... Miami is the natural fit here. I'd probably term them a very early favorite in this process."

Worth noting during the process, Beck's girlfriend, Hanna Cavinder, plays women's basketball for the Hurricanes.