Entering the NFL Draft with a clear need at quarterback but no clear quarterback to take at No. 3 overall, the Arizona Cardinals ended up getting creative. That saw them wait until Day 2 to select a quarterback, snagging Carson Beck with the No. 65 overall pick.
Beck is a quarterback who worked his way up the depth chart with the Georgia Bulldogs to become a starter before he transferred to the Miami Hurricanes for his final college season. In that final season, all he managed to do was play for a national championship. Still, throughout his career, Beck faced doubters.
Today, as Beck prepares to battle for playing time with the Cardinals, he’s still facing doubters. That includes an anonymous Power Four defensive coordinator who has his doubts about Beck as an NFL QB.
“He’s been in enough good places. I think what you see is what you get,” the coordinator said, via ESPN. “I think he’ll be solid. I don’t think he’ll be special. Whether it’s poise or accuracy at key moments, he just seems to have too many misses. But he’s a good, solid player.”
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Mike LaFleur on Carson Beck
GettyArizona Cardinals draft pick Carson Beck
Carson Beck is going to have his place in Arizona Cardinals history. If nothing else, he has become the first quarterback selected in the Mike LaFleur era, which is worth knowing given that LaFleur was brought in to spark the offense.
Shortly after selecting Beck, LaFleur had a chance to share some thoughts on the pick. There, he would praise Beck for his size and throwing ability.
“He’s a big, solid dude,” LaFleur said. “I mean, he’s 6-foot-4, he’s 235 pounds. He looks the part, right? That doesn’t mean that that’s the end all be all by any means. Natural thrower, he’s tough.”
Beck suffered a major elbow injury in his final game at Georgia. That would be a difficult recovery for him as he transitioned from Georgia to Miami, missing time in the offseason and needing to regain that strength. He would do so over the course of the offseason and even into the regular season.
A little older, having played six college seasons, Beck has a ton of experience for a rookie. That should give him a leg up as he tries to begin this transition to the NFL, playing for LaFleur.
Kurt Warner Shared His Thoughts on Carson Beck
GettyKurt Warner
During his playing career, Kurt Warner proved to be one of the legends in Arizona Cardinals history. Now, he’s had a chance to take a look at Carson Beck, and he likes what he sees from the next generation of Cardinals’ quarterbacks.
“I really like Carson’s tape,” Warner said. “He played in a lot of big games. He understands how to play the position. So, there’s a lot to like about Carson Beck. To me, the question just becomes, does he have that something extra?”
Warner would go on to make the comparison to Brock Purdy. He’s a quarterback who came into the NFL with plenty of people doubting him, but was able to prove those people wrong. Beck will need to do something similar.
“When Brock Purdy comes on the scene and still to this day, we’re not blown away by the physical traits or the things that he does with his cannon arm or anything like that,” Warner said. “But he’s shown us that he’s got something to him. That moxie, that ability to make big throws, that ability to understand how to make different throws and come up with big plays in the moment. That, to me, is what the rest of this class has to prove.”
Beck is expected to compete for the starting job in Arizona this season. The Cardinals also have Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew on their roster, who have started NFL games.
Cardinals Draft Pick Carson Beck Still Being Doubted by College Coaches as a QB