Can Stetson Bennett Play in the NFL?

Can Stetson Bennett play in the NFL? That’s the question on everyone’s mind after the former Georgia quarterback’s stellar performance in the XFL.

Bennett was one of the best quarterbacks in the XFL, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. He also showed off his mobility, running for over 200 yards and four touchdowns.

Now, the question is whether Bennett can parlay his XFL success into an NFL career. He’s got the talent,

Stetson Bennett’s Background

Stetson Bennett played football for two years at Georgia before signing with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He was then waived by the Colts and signed with the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad. The Packers promoted Bennett to the active roster in December 2020.

High School

Bennett played high school football for Pierce County High School in Georgia. During his time there, he was named to the All-Region team and helped his team make it to the state semifinals. He was also a three-sport athlete, playing baseball and basketball in addition to football.

JuCo

Stetson Bennett played quarterback at Jones County Junior College in Mississippi for two seasons. As a freshman in 2016, he threw for 3,165 yards and 28 touchdowns. He followed that up with 3,743 yards and 37 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2017. He was named the MACJC Offensive Player of the Year both seasons.

Stetson Bennett’s Skills

Stetson Bennett, former backup quarterback for the University of Georgia, has been getting a lot of attention lately. He went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, but some people are wondering if he has what it takes to play in the NFL. Let’s take a look at his skills.

Arm Strength

Bennett has mediocre arm strength. He struggles to make throws downfield, particularly when he has to fit the ball into a tight window. Even on simple outs and comebacks, Bennett lacks the velocity to consistently get the ball out quickly and on target. This was something that showed up frequently on tape. When he was asked to make a more significant throw, Bennett often couldn’t deliver.

Accuracy

Bennett’s primary skillset is his accuracy as a passer. He doesn’t have the strongest arm in the world, but he is very accurate, especially on short and intermediate throws. His accuracy is what makes him such a dangerous quarterback in the check-down game. Bennett excels at finding his second and third reads in the passing game and delivering the ball accurately to them. This allows his receivers to pick up extra yards after the catch and makes him very difficult to defend.

Pocket Presence

NFL quarterbacks are under more pressure than ever before. They’re being asked to make plays in the pocket and out of it, to find targets downfield and check the ball down when necessary. They need to be able to read defenses pre-snap and post-snap and make quick, accurate decisions. And they have to do all of this while being pelted by 300-pound defenders.

It’s a lot to ask of one player, which is why pocket presence has become such an important trait for quarterbacks at all levels of the game. Simply put, pocket presence is the ability to feel the rush, step up in the pocket and deliver an accurate throw while taking a hit.

A quarterback with good pocket presence has a calming effect on his offensive line. He knows when to step up and when to get rid of the ball, and he’s not afraid of taking a hit if it means his team has a chance to win. Stetson Bennett has good pocket presence. He’s not afraid to stand in there and take a hit, and he does a good job of finding open receivers when the play breaks down.

Stetson Bennett’s NFL Comparison

Stetson Bennett may not have the size or arm strength of some of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but he has the touch and accuracy that scouts look for. Bennett played in a pro-style offense at Georgia and was successful against some of the best defenses in the country. He also has the intangibles that NFL teams covet. Let’s take a look at how Bennett compares to some of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.

Tom Brady

Like many people, Stetson Bennett has often been compared to Tom Brady. While the comparison is not always accurate, there are some similarities between the two quarterbacks. Both Bennett and Brady have a strong arm, good accuracy, and great leadership skills. However, Bennett is not as tall as Brady and does not have the same level of experience.

Drew Brees

Stetson Bennett’s NFL Comparison is Drew Brees. The two quarterbacks have very similar throwing motion and mechanics. Both are accurate quarterbacks with good arm strength. Bennett has good pocket presence and can make all the throws.

Aaron Rodgers

Like Rodgers, Bennett thrives when he can extend plays with his feet and improvise outside of the pocket. He’s not quite as accurate as Rodgers was at Cal, but he improved as a passer in each of his three years as UGA’s starter. Bennett (6-1,215) is also a touch undersized for an NFL quarterback, but he has a strong arm and can make every throw.