TEMPE, Ariz. — The more time the Arizona Cardinals spent with Carson Beck, the more they watched him and the more of his film they saw, the more they liked the former Miami quarterback.
Arizona turned down trade offers for the 65th overall pick, standing pat atop the third round to take Beck, whom the Cardinals met with at the NFL scouting combine and hosted for a visit earlier this month.
“A lot of things sold us on Carson, and we were excited to add him to our room,” Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said Friday.
Ossenfort, who watched Beck play in the College Football Playoff at the Fiesta Bowl, cited Beck’s experience. In six years as a college quarterback, Beck started 43 games, including multiple CFP matchups.
The GM also said Beck’s size — he’s 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds — combined with his toughness, strength and ability to stand in the pocket helped make him the right choice.
“He’s got a good arm strength,” Ossenfort said. “He can drive the ball down the field. Good accuracy, good production. Those are all things that we like.”
Beck said Friday night that heading into the draft, he didn’t have any expectations about where he’d land or what round he’d go in.
“Really, for me, just work as hard as I can, do what I can in the combine, do what I can in the pro day, be myself with these meetings and these 30 visits, and whatever happens, happens,” Beck said. “Obviously, for the call to come today, really, really cool. And I’m super blessed again for this opportunity and super, super grateful to be able to come in there and just work my tail off.”
Beck’s addition further clouds the quarterback situation for the Cardinals. He joins a quarterback room that includes Jacoby Brissett, who started 12 games for Arizona last season; Gardner Minshew II, whom the Cardinals signed in March; and Kedon Slovis.
Brissett has not attended the Cardinals’ voluntary offseason program to date as he awaits a new contract. Ossenfort said drafting Beck does not affect his approach with Brissett’s contract because they are “two independent things.”
Whether Beck can compete to be Arizona’s starter is yet to be seen.
Ossenfort said the priority for Beck is to get him acclimated with his home, both personally and professionally.
“So, we just want to get him in the building here and show him where the cafeteria is and the locker room is and get him fitted for his gear,” Ossenfort said. “And then we’ll go from there. We’re excited to add great competition in that room, and we’ll see how it shakes out.”
Beck, for his part, isn’t concerned about starting either.
“Look, for me, I mean, obviously haven’t even stepped into the facility yet,” Beck said. “My approach to this whole entire thing is being myself, being the best player that I possibly can be and just trying to take advantage of every single opportunity that I’m given.
“But, again, I’m super grateful. I don’t know what that will look like. I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the future, but I know for sure that I’m going to step in there and, again, try to take advantage of every opportunity I can and just put my best foot forward each and every day.”
Beck comes to Arizona with 37-6 record as a starter in college. He started 43 of 55 games at the University of Georgia and the University of Miami. Beck finished his collegiate career with a 69.5% completion rate and 88 touchdown passes against 32 interceptions.
When coach Mike LaFleur has watched Beck’s tape, he has seen a quarterback running a pro-style offense and moving through his progressions like NFL quarterbacks are asked to do.
After Beck was asked about playing with the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and 2026 first-round pick Jeremiyah Love, he couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of being surrounded by those playmakers.
“There’s so much talent on that team,” Beck said. “And, again, that’s what you need as a quarterback. You got guys around you, you give them chances, you put the ball in their hands, and that’s what it’s about at the end of the day.”
The Cardinals had been linked to Ty Simpson for weeks, with the idea that they would trade back into the first round to take the former Alabama quarterback. The Los Angeles Rams dashed that possibility, however, by drafting Simpson at No. 13 on Thursday night.
Drafting a quarterback this year was not a priority, Ossenfort said. It was just how the Cardinals’ board fell.
“Ultimately, at 65, Carson was a great fit for us at that point,” Ossenfort said. “[If] it wouldn’t have worked out, then we would have went on to the next guy.”
