Once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick, Carson Beck ended up becoming the first player selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft.
The Arizona Cardinals took the polarizing University of Miami quarterback Friday night with the 65th overall pick. He’ll join a roster that already has veteran quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew and play for rookie head coach Mike LaFleur.
“I’m super excited, super grateful, super blessed,” said Beck, who spent five seasons at Georgia before transferring to Miami and leading the Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff final against Indiana in January. “I took a visit out there and loved the staff, loved Coach LaFleur.”
Beck was only the third quarterback selected in a draft that’s considered thin at the sport’s most important position. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of national champion Indiana went No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, when Alabama’s Ty Simpson was selected 13th by the Los Angeles Rams.
No quarterbacks were picked in Friday’s 32-pick second round, during which 22 defensive players were taken.