With Carson Beck, Arizona could not have gone more opposite than what they had at QB

The Arizona Cardinals will have a completely different look at quarterback this year and, after drafting Carson Beck with the 65th overall pick in the 226 NFL Draft, new coach Mike LaFleur is hoping the former Miami Hurricanes signal caller will fit his vision.

Seven years ago, Arizona drafted Kyler Murray with the first overall pick of the 2019 draft. While Murray had a lot of talent and a strong athletic profile, the pick was seen as a big risk. At 5-foot-10, Murray was one of the shortest quarterbacks in the league and his style of play was best suited for him to use his mobility and create plays off schedule. Beck is much more of a traditional drop back passer with the ability to rollout and throw at times. Murray had just 17 total starts in college, most of which were in his junior season at Oklahoma. Beck started 16 games in the 2025 season alone and has 43 starts over the past three seasons between Miami and Georgia. 

It's safe to say that Beck is basically the polar opposite of Murray.

Carson Beck will give the Arizona Cardinals offense a different look

Beck is a natural fit for what LaFleur wants to do on offense. He wants the Cardinals to run the ball to set up the pass. There is going to be a heavy use of play-action as well. It's the type of offense that Beck has plenty of experience in during his six years of college football.

"He's big, he's tough, he's strong," Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort said. "He stands strong in the pocket, not afraid to take a hit in the pocket. He's got good arm strength, and he can drive the ball down the field."

When the NFL season rolls around, Beck will be nearly two years removed from UCL surgery and the expectation is that his arm strength will be better than it was last year. Beck certainly has good arm talent, but it was unreasonable to expect his arm to be at 100% percent after recovering from major surgery. 

The Cardinals' selection of Beck is a perfect example of a team picking a player to fit their scheme. He might not be the most athletic or dynamic quarterback in the draft, but Beck has experience, he's a leader, and he's won a lot of football games. For a team that's struggled as much as the Cardinals have, Beck has the intangibles that can't be ignored. 

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