Carson Beck drafted by Cardinals: How QB fits in Arizona

Carson Beck spent his college football career crossing the Florida-Georgia line. Now he's heading to Arizona to start his professional career.

>The former Miami Hurricanes and Georgia Bulldogs quarterback has been selected by the Cardinals with the No. 34 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It takes another quarterback off the board as Beck follows Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson as the signal callers making the jump from the college to pro ranks.

>Ranked as the sixth-best quarterback on USA TODAY Sports' big board, Beck had seen his draft stock drop consistently over time after initially being a projected top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Some of that is because of turnovers and inconsistent play on the field. Some of that is because of an injury that required surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his elbow.

>Rather than enter the draft with that medical issue hanging over him, Beck instead transferred to Miami.

>Unsurprisingly, Beck is at his best when he's surrounded by quality talent in a timing-based system. All the evidence you need is rooted in his level of play when Brock Bowers or Malachi Toney were on the field. Battle-tested in more ways than one, Beck will now put his focus on a new challenge.

>Here's what to know about where Beck lands on the team's depth chart and his overall fit with the Cardinals.

Cardinals QB depth chartJacoby Brissett • >Gardner Minshew • >Carson Beck • >Kedon SlovisHow does Carson Beck fit with the Cardinals?The Cardinals have a need at quarterback and the 2026 NFL Draft wasn't exactly loaded with options. In that case, the fit is a logical one for both Beck and Arizona.

>Arizona hopes to feature a strong rushing attack to set up play action, which would utilize Beck's skillset. He is at his best in timing-based systems, meaning he would be suited to play for a Mike LaFleur team that relies on throwing with anticipation.

>His arm strength took a hit following the injury, which certainly won't help Beck in the deep passing game.

>He'll have to improve his ability to handle pressure and cut down on the turnovers, but it's a worthwhile risk for a Cardinals team that could easily dip into the 2027 quarterback class if this doesn't work out.

>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who drafted Carson Beck? QB's fit with Cardinals, depth chart