How Stetson Bennett compares to this former NFL quarterback

How Bennett favors Smith in particular

Simply put, Bennett’s combination of surroundings and performance screams what some would call a “game manager,” especially by NFL standards. A game manager is a quarterback that can give his team some good runs when he is comfortable (sound familiar?), but is unable to consistently lead his guys when the going gets tough. For the vast majority of his professional career, Alex Smith was seen as a game manager for a couple of franchises.

His first team, the San Francisco 49ers, were terrible in his first several seasons, and he was being labeled by many as a “bust” until Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach. Suddenly, Smith was quarterbacking an NFC contender.

Later on in Kansas City, Smith had some strong performances with head coach Andy Reid and offensive weapons like Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. They were a promising team entering the playoffs, but never got out of the AFC. Both SF and KC hit higher peaks after moving off of Smith. All that followed those stints was a decent start in Washington and an infamous leg injury that derailed his career.

So while Smith had a storied run in the NFL, he will be remembered as a game manager at his best. He could give you a good season if he had the right array of coaching and pieces, but he was never able to get over the hump or consistently stand out as the star of his offense. Stetson Bennett gives off that exact vibe when he finishes the 2022-23 season at sixth in passing yards and tied for 18th in passing touchdowns as the QB at Georgia—the school that has cemented itself as the current king of college football in every way possible.

I can’t predict the future, and I wish the absolute best for Bennett’s career. But nonetheless, the title of “game manager” is not a compliment, especially when you just finished your college days on the best note that one can.

At least one NFL team will take a chance on Bennett, and hopefully he will stand out when such a time comes. But, until then, the questionability of where his own limits lie will raise many concerns around what the future holds for him.