You won't find anyone who disputes the fact that the Arizona Cardinals desperately need a true franchise quarterback, and maybe Carson Beck can be that guy.
A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft (65th overall), Beck brings some desirable traits to the table, particularly in terms of his starting experience against top competition, and in big games. His teams at both Georgia and Miami enjoyed tons of success, and he knows what it looks like to go up against stout defenses on the biggest stages.
But a closer look at his college tape reveals a skill set without high-end physical traits, and a lack of consistency in the finer points of playing the position at the highest level that are sure to get exposed by NFL defenses.
Accuracy, ball placement, decision-making, anticipation, and reading/processing defenses are all essential skills for any quarterback who wants to be a successful starter at the pro level, and those are the areas in which Beck continued to struggle. While it's understandable for younger passers to have these issues early in their collegiate careers, Beck (ranked No. 180 overall on my board) appeared in 55 games over six seasons between the Bulldogs and the Hurricanes. To still be struggling in these areas of the game, right down to the interception he threw to seal a national title game loss against Indiana, is a concerning factor when trying to project his future value at the next level.
Even so, the QB-desperate Cardinals drafted Beck at the top of the third round back in April, adding him to a quarterback room that's desperate for someone to rise to the occasion and give them hope for both the present and future. While veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett continues to push for more money as the assumed starter, Beck should have a wide-open opportunity to challenge for the starting job as a rookie.
But the Cards are widely expected to be picking at the top of the board in the 2027 NFL Draft, and next year's crop of quarterback prospects is loaded with first-round potential. Oregon's Dante Moore and Texas' Arch Manning are the early front-runners at the top of the class, but there's a strong second tier of passers, all of whom have the tools and upside to push for first-round consideration with a strong performance this season. That list includes South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame's CJ Carr, among others.
If Arizona's 2026 season goes as most expect, they could be in position to select Moore or Manning with a top-three pick. Even if they win a few more games, they should still be in position to pick from that next tier of top quarterback prospects.
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In order to prevent them from doing so, Beck would not only have to impress in training camp and throughout practice enough to earn significant playing time as the Cardinals' starter ahead of Brissett and the rest of the signal-callers on the roster. But he would also have to be a player we never saw in six years of college football.
He would have to be consistent with his accuracy, avoiding critical turnovers in clutch moments. He would have to beat NFL defenders with tight-window throws and pinpoint ball placement. He would have to stay one step ahead of bigger, faster, stronger defenses with more complex schemes than most (if not all) of what he saw in the college ranks.
Beck's size, experience, and adequate arm talent should be enough for him to carve out a solid career as an NFL backup. But it's unlikely he'll bring enough to the table as a rookie to keep the Cardinals from spending a much higher pick on a much better prospect next year.
