With the 65th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Carson Beck, fresh off a National Championship run with the Miami Hurricanes.
The team needed to take a quarterback after releasing Kyler Murray and after Jacoby Brissett held out for a new contract. Here’s how former head coach Jon Gruden reacted to the move.
Jon Gruden Reacts to the Cardinals Selecting Carson Beck
In his college career, Beck spent five years with the University of Georgia, where he won two National Championships as a backup, followed by one season with Miami, where his team lost in the National Championship to the Indiana Hoosiers.
In his final season, Beck completed 72.4% of passes (led ACC) for 3813 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. As a rusher, he ran 62 times for 43 yards and two touchdowns.
In three years, he has an average impact score of 81.9 in PFSN’s College Football Quarterback Impact Metric.
At the end of six seasons, his college career finished with a completion percentage of 69.5%, 11,725 passing yards, 88 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions. On the ground, he added an additional 288 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on 189 attempts.
Now, he’ll be on his way to Arizona. In reaction to the selection, Gruden posted the following five words: “Congrats, Carson. Go be great!!”
Carson Beck to the Arizona Cardinals!!
Congrats, Carson. Go be great!! pic.twitter.com/oSSbTma7BD
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 25, 2026
Gruden even had time to talk handshakes with Beck during “Gruden’s QB Class.”
Carson Beck is bringing his handshakes to the desert!!
Welcome to Arizona, Carson!! pic.twitter.com/gzzjoDO2oz
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 25, 2026
When Beck joins the Cardinals, he’ll absolutely have the ability to be the team’s starting quarterback.
Beck’s biggest competition will be Brissett, who ranked 25th in PFSN’s NFL Quarterback Impact Metric last season. After completing 64.9% of his passes for 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, and rushing for another 168 yards and 1 touchdown, he finished the season with an impact score of 73.5 and a letter grade of C.
In PFSN’s NFL Offensive Impact Metric, the Cardinals were ranked 22nd in the league offensively last season. They averaged 20.9 points per game (23rd), 232 passing yards per game (seventh), 93.1 rushing yards per game (31st), 5.2 yards per play (18th), 1.2 turnovers per game (14th), and 40 total touchdowns per game (20th). Overall, they finished with an impact score of 71.4 and a letter grade of C-.
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With the addition of Beck and the complications behind Brissett’s contract situation, the Cardinals have an interesting situation on their hands. Do you think Beck will start, or will Brissett receive an extension and take back his role?
