ATHENS — Kirby Smart and the Georgia football team know the value of having an NFL-ready quarterback like Carson Beck under center this season.

More importantly, Beck knows the value of his teammates, and that’s why he cut his offensive linemen in on his latest NIL deal.

Beck punted tens of thousands of dollars in an upcoming NIL deal by including his starting offensive line in the deal, per Dan Everett of the Everett Sports Management (ESM) agency.

Georgia safety Malaki Starks and tight end Oscar Delp will also be part of the commercial, along with Beck’s sister, Kylie.

Smart said on Tuesday that Beck’s NIL deals, which helped lead him to a much-publicized purchase of an Lamborghini SUV this past offseason, have not created any issues in the locker room.

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“Our kids acknowledge and recognize that the quarterback is a different position when it comes to NIL, and Carson does a good job handling that,” Smart said.

“It’s never been about that with him. He’s very humble. He works hard. He’s a leader, and the players respect what Carson went through to get where he is, and I think he earned that.”

Beck will begin his second season as Georgia’s starting quarterback when the Bulldogs take the field for a noon showdown with Clemson on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

There were three other seasons before these most recent two where Beck started on the bench, growing mentally and physically within the Georgia program, rather than transfer out to a lesser team for certain starting roles.

Beck grew closer to many of his teammates, including those on the offensive line, and he understands the value of taking care of the people that have taken care of him.

Asked about his Heisman Trophy chances this season — no UGA player has won it since Herschel Walker in 1980 — Beck referred to it as a team award.

“It’s 100 percent a team trophy, because obviously as a quarterback my success is very much dependent on the offensive line,” Beck said, “(and) it’s very much dependent on how our running backs play, it’s very much dependent on if our defense can get stops, it’s very much dependent on if our wide receivers can go make contested catches and get open.”

Indeed, but it’s Beck who makes the offense go with his ability to process defenses quickly and check into plays and formation shifts that give his receivers and advantage even before he unleashes accurate spirals off his golden arm.

Beck’s value is clear, even before offensive coordinator Mike Bobo told a group of boosters that Beck’s return for the 2024 season as Georgia’s most valuable recruiting job of the offseason.

The Bulldogs’ starting quarterback is the leading returning passer in the nation and a projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

Smart, his roster full of NFL talent and future draft picks, understands his players’ aspirations, and makes sure to educated them in all related aspects.

“We try to address (NIL value) early in our team back in January and February, when you start brand new that everybody is in a different position,” Smart said. “We show the NFL salary cap. We show the NFL minimum. We show the NFL the highest thing you can get at each position in franchise players.

“It’s very obvious what quarterbacks make as starting quarterbacks in the NFL … "

It’s not unrealistic to think Beck could be under center for an NFL team right now with former Auburn and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix — a player Beck was compared favorably to by some NFL scouts — the starter for the Denver Broncos.

Beck, instead, returned for another season to improve his NFL draft stock and compete for a national championship after leading UGA to a 13-1 record in 2023.

Beck will continue to rake in more NIL money along the way, but now his teammates are benefitting, too, making his presence on the Georgia football roster all that much more valuable.