The Arizona Cardinals are wasting no time in their search for a franchise quarterback. According to ESPN analyst Matt Miller, the Cardinals are poised to select Miami quarterback Carson Beck with the 34th overall pick on Friday, making them the clear front-runner for the former Hurricane.
Beck, who led Miami to the national championship game last season, was widely expected to be a first-round pick, but he slipped into Day 2. Now, Arizona appears ready to pounce. Miller called the potential selection a "reach" based on predraft rankings, but he argued the Cardinals are in "quarterback purgatory" and must take risks to find a capable starter.
Beck’s stock received a major boost after his stellar College Football Playoff performance, which changed the narrative around him. He completed 72.4% of his passes for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season, finishing his college career with 11,725 passing yards and 88 touchdowns. Those numbers suggest he has the tools to be a game-changer at the next level.
But not everyone is sold on Beck. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that some NFL coaches and executives have concerns about his personality. One NFC coach told Breer, "He’s talented enough, smooth, on time, sees it well, he’s smart—probably the smartest kid in the class. But the personality is tough. I wouldn’t touch him."
Despite those rumblings, Beck had pre-draft visits with the Cardinals, Dolphins, Jets, and Steelers. Of that group, Arizona appears the most desperate for a quarterback. The Cardinals were one of the teams that Mel Kiper named as a winner in the first round, and they could continue that momentum by landing Beck early on Day 2.
If the Cardinals do pull the trigger on Beck at No. 34, it would signal that the organization is confident in his leadership skills—despite the whispers. For a team that has been searching for stability under center, Beck’s combination of accuracy, experience, and big-game poise might be exactly what they need.
Meanwhile, the draft's second day is set to be packed with drama. The 8-minute draft clock has already sparked outrage after a chaotic first round, and teams like the Browns are making moves that hint at a bigger plan for Shedeur Sanders in 2026. But for now, all eyes are on Carson Beck and the Cardinals.
Will Beck hear his name called early Friday? If the Cardinals have their way, he won’t have to wait long.
