Cardinals draft Miami QB Beck to start Round 3

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The Arizona Cardinals selected Miami quarterback Carson Beck with the 65th overall pick in the third round of the NFL draft on Friday.

Beck is the third signal-caller off the board, following top selection Fernando Mendoza (Las Vegas Raiders) and 13th overall pick Ty Simpson (Los Angeles Rams).

Beck, 23, spent last season at Miami after a four-year run with Georgia. He led the Hurricanes to the national title game, throwing for 3,813 yards and 30 touchdowns during the 2025 campaign.

The Cardinals are looking for a long-term quarterback after parting ways with Kyler Murray this offseason. Arizona also signed Gardner Minshew in free agency, joining a room that also features Jacoby Brissett. The 33-year-old Brissett started 12 games for the Cardinals in 2025 and doesn't plan to attend the start of the Cardinals' offseason program while seeking a contract extension that would pay him a QB1 salary.

Beck's predraft profile

Beck should have fans among personnel evaluators who subscribe to Bill Parcells' rules of drafting quarterbacks. He's got more meaningful reps than any other passer in this class, winning 37 of 43 starts for title contenders across the last three seasons. Beck finished his college career having completed nearly 70% of his passes with 88 touchdowns to 32 interceptions. That extensive experience shows up in his ability to work through progressions and operate on time from the pocket.

Beck has low-level starter upside if paired with a team that runs a quick-hit passing game designed to get the ball out of his hands quickly and minimize his exposure to pressure. However, he struggled to push the ball downfield with any consistency after the elbow injury that ended his 2024 season. Barring a significant bounce back in that regard, Beck likely profiles as a long-term backup.