Mel Kiper's 1st big board rankings has Miami QB Carson Beck in an intriguing spot

We've already learned that Carson Beck isn't interested in the hype.

He's not interested in hearing the pundits talk about how great Miami is, and he's certainly not interested in the Heisman hype. So asking him about the 2026 NFL Draft is probably a waste of time, but Mel Kiper is paid to be a draft pundit and, on his big board, Carson Beck is not a top five quarterback...yet.

Kiper currently has Beck as the No. 6 quarterback in the Draft class, behind Oklahoma's John Mateer and outside the top 25 players on his big board.

Beck, a fifth-year senior in his third year as a full-time starter, has been extremely efficient this season, completing nearly 74 percent of his passes for 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. After missing the spring while recovering from major elbow surgery, Beck hasn't shown too much rust this season with his touch and ball placement. 

The concerns about Beck's arm strength after the surgery appear to be unfounded, but even that aspect of his game should improve as his elbow continues to strengthen over time. 

Hitting the big plays against Louisville

Beck's primary concern is tonight's game against Louisville. The Hurricanes have played one game in the past 25 days, their 28-22 win over Florida State. The Cardinals pass defense is one of the best in the country against the deep ball and Beck said that's something that Miami will have to challenge.

"They are primarily a one-high team, and it's a lot more difficult to hit those big post balls or deep shots with teams that play over the top, almost like an umbrella," Beck said. "This is one of the better defenses, if not the best, in my opinion, that we've played based on what they do and how they challenge you. It's going to be a challenge, but something that we're looking forward to."