Cardinals Take Miami QB Carson Beck To Open Third Round
The third quarterback comes off the board on Day 2 as the Cardinals have opened the third round by selecting Miami quarterback Carson Beck. Many believed Arizona would not be exiting the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft without a new passer, and the Hurricanes passer has emerged as the team’s preferred option.
Over six years at the collegiate level (five at Georgia, one at Miami), Beck’s story was a rollercoaster. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2020, Beck watched new division rival Stetson Bennett IV win two national championships for the Bulldogs before he finally got his opportunity to start in 2023. Beck showed a ton of promise in his first year running the offense, going 13-1 while completing 72.4 percent of his passes for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.
After being identified as a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, Beck’s production took a step back in his second year as a starter. His accuracy became an issue as his completion percentage dropped significantly and his interception total doubled. Adding insult to injury, his time in Athens came to an end when he suffered a UCL injury in an SEC Championship victory, requiring surgery on his throwing elbow. After briefly considering sticking with the plan to head to the NFL, Beck opted instead to transfer to Miami. Aided by one of the country’s top offensive lines, Beck showed improved efficiency as he led the Hurricanes to a College Football Playoff National Championship Game of his own.
Beck and the Hurricanes fell just short of the pinnacle of the sport; their chances of glory disappeared in the waning moments of the fourth quarter with a final untimely interception. That final pick meant Beck’s season total would reach 12 for the second year in a row, but in 2025, eight of his interceptions came in only three games, as he bunched all of his mistakes in a few games and showed better consistency in a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde act in Coral Gables. And though his collegiate legacy will be that of a passer who always seemed to come up just short, his 37-6 record as a starter is not easy to ignore.
Beck heads to Arizona where an intriguing situation awaits him. Veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett is back for 2026 after starting 12 games as an injury replacement for Kyler Murray. Despite his status as a career bridge quarterback, linking one era of passer to another, Brissett has been adamantly pushing for a “starter-level extension” with the Cardinals. Unfortunately, general manager Monti Ossenfort declined to name a starter, wanting to wait and “see how the room looks in August.” Brissett has been staying away from voluntary team activities, as a result, and if he continues to hold out, Beck should see plenty of snaps early.
Brissett is clearly the likely starter for Arizona in 2026, but leaving the door open at all for Beck to gain some ground and chemistry next to fellow offensive rookie Jeremiyah Love could be a dangerous gamble. The Cardinals as taking a flyer in the hopes of striking oil here, but Beck, a humble, experienced leader, could easily continue to develop into a starter at the NFL level.
Latest On Day 2 QB Outlook
Although the falls of Shedeur Sanders and Malik Willis defined days of past drafts this decade, earlier-than-expected quarterback picks (and rapid pre-draft rises) are a draft tradition. The Rams continued this with their Ty Simpson pick at No. 13, and considerable fallout emerged from the choice.
Simpson coming off the board before the first round’s midpoint surprised, and with the Rams choosing him, a few QB-needy teams that lacked Fernando Mendoza access are still without one as Day 2 nears. The destinations of Carson Beck, Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier may be known tonight.
The Cardinals are still a team to watch for on a quarterback. Several teams view Arizona as a potential fit for Beck, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz. Arizona holds the Nos. 34 and 65 picks tonight, but Schultz adds the team is looking to move down. A slide down from 34 could put the Cards in better range for Beck, even if the recent CFP title game starter may have completed a late rise during the pre-draft process.
No team was more closely connected to Simpson than the Cardinals, but it turned out a trade-up from No. 34 was not going to be enough to land him. Beck came up late as a possible second-round option, though SI.com’s Albert Breer cautions it is still possible none of this trio goes off the board tonight. Breer does place Beck atop the QB queue, listing Allar and then Nussmeier next. Most teams view the LSU product third among this group, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who cautions that is not a universal view.
The topic of this draft’s QB3 has come up frequently, and now that we have seen Mendoza and Simpson go off the board, it will be one of tonight’s centerpiece storylines. The Browns did a lot of QB work in this draft, Rapoport adds, though a Thursday report indicated Cleveland — after drafting Sanders and Dillon Gabriel last year — is not expected to select one.
The Rams and Jets worked out Nussmeier; the Colts did as well. Recent medical clearance on a spine injury also figures to matter significantly for the former first-round prospect. The Cardinals, Jets and Steelers used “30” visits on Allar. The Cardinals, Dolphins and Jets met with Beck.
The Dolphins, Jets and Steelers should be considered in the mix for these passers, though. And the Browns should not be ruled out just yet. That said, the prospect of a tantalizing 2027 QB crop could cause some of these teams to wait (this has come up as a Jets likely path). Then again, choosing a third-round passer this year would not exactly eliminate the prospect of a first-round choice next year.
Teams Atop Second-Round Order Receiving Calls; 49ers Open To Trading Down
4:15pm: The 49ers’ 33rd pick is a popular target for teams looking to trade up, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who mentions Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis among the group of potential selections.
If San Francisco does not bite on an offer, they may pursue Missouri defensive end Zion Young, Breer adds. Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams tore their ACLs last year, so Young would give the 49ers a reliable starter as the two former first-rounders make their way back to the field.
12:47pm: Many of the picks toward the back end of the first-round order changed hands last night. That resulted in several alterations to the draft list for Day 2.
As things stand, the 49ers, Cardinals and Bills own the first three picks in tonight’s second round. Several more trades can of course be expected moving forward, and NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports all three of those teams have received calls. It would come as little surprise if San Francisco in particular elected to move out of the No. 33 spot.
Per Schultz, the 49ers are considered to be “very open” to trading down. GM John Lynch authorized a move from No. 27 to 30 in a deal with the Dolphins. That was followed in short order by a trade which saw the Jets acquire No. 30. San Francisco has yet to make a selection in 2026 as a result, but Schultz notes the team is confident one of its targets will still be available even if another trade down the board takes place.
The Cardinals were long seen as a candidate to move into the back half of the first round to select quarterback Ty Simpson. With the Rams having selected him 13th overall, though, Arizona was not among the teams moving around late last night. The Cardinals added running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, and several options will be available when they are next on the clock regardless of if a trade is worked out.
The Bills were originally scheduled to select 26th overall. Things changed on multiple occasions as the first round drew to a close, however, with Buffalo opting to trade down three times. That has given general manager Brandon Beane extra capital to work with, although continuing to move down will carry risk in terms of limiting the remaining high-end prospects available when he makes his first pick. It will be interesting to see how Buffalo operates moving forward.
Earlier today, the Giants were floated as a team which could trade up from the No. 37 slot. A pairing between New York and one of the top three teams in the current second-round order could be something to watch for as the countdown to Day 2 continues.
Cardinals Add RB Jeremiyah Love At No. 3
After buzz connected the Cardinals to Jeremiyah Love, the top running back in the 2026 class is indeed Arizona-bound. Love has been drafted third overall. The Notre Dame product becomes the highest drafted running back in the NFL since the Saquon Barkley went second overall eight years ago.
Love was by far the consensus top running back of the 2026 class. His backup with the Fighting Irish, Jadarian Price, is widely considered RB2 and may have to wait until Day 2 of the draft to hear is name. Ever since taking over the starting job as a sophomore, Love has been perhaps the most electric running back in college football. In two years as RB1, he combined for 2,497 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in just 28 games.
Love joins a crowded running backs room in Arizona that is likely about to clear out to make room for his star power. James Conner has been the man for the Cardinals since coming over from Pittsburgh in 2021. Over his first four years with the team, Conner averaged 917 yards per season with 37 touchdowns, but in 2025, injuries limited him to only three games. The team also signed former Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier in free agency after four strong years as a backup in Atlanta.
There’s little question Love will be RB1 once he arrives in Arizona. With draft pick salaries automatically set per slot, Love will easily be the team’s highest-paid rusher on a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.02MM rookie contract. He also become the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL by annual average value, but his guaranteed money will exceed even that of Barkley.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Poll: What Will Cardinals Do With Third Overall Pick?
We have a good idea of how the first two picks of this year’s NFL draft will go. The Raiders are going to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. Barring something unexpected, the Jets will use the second choice on either Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker/edge Arvell Reese. There is less certainty at No. 3, where the Cardinals could go a handful of different directions.
Arizona has posted a woeful 15-36 record in Monti Ossenfort‘s three seasons as its general manager, but he will nonetheless run his fourth draft this year. If Ossenfort’s seat isn’t hot yet, it stands to reason his chances of being in this position a year from now will decrease if he misses on his first-rounder tonight. While the Cardinals are entering this draft with glaring needs at right tackle and edge defender, among other spots, Ossenfort could opt for a splashy pick to add more skill to a subpar offense.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, arguably the best prospect at any position in this class, has won over the Cardinals’ new Mike LaFleur-led coaching staff. Love could be the Cardinals’ pick, even though they added former Falcon Tyler Allgeier in free agency and still have James Conner, Trey Benson and Zonovan Knight on their roster.
If the Cardinals pass on Love to upgrade in the trenches, they could be the first team to take an offensive lineman. As a rookie GM in 2023, Ossenfort spent the sixth pick on left tackle Paris Johnson, who has turned into a franchise cornerstone. Ossenfort could land a capable bookend for the right side if he grabs someone like Spencer Fano (Utah) or Francis Mauigoa (Miami).
On the defensive side, Reese or Bailey would provide a much-needed pass-rushing upgrade to a unit that tied for 30th in sacks last year. Reese spent a significant portion of his Buckeyes tenure as an off-ball linebacker, but the Cardinals view him as an edge defender going forward.
While there will be enticing prospects available at No. 3, the Cardinals may move down to collect more draft capital. New Orleans, which owns the eighth pick, is one potential trade partner. If the Cardinals trade with the Saints, they would surely receive the eighth selection as part of the package. The Cardinals would still be in good position to upgrade their roster in that scenario. Perhaps Ossenfort will decide trading down is the best option.
What do you expect the Cardinals to do with the third pick tonight? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
What will the Cardinals do with the third overall pick?
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Trade down 44% (270)
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Draft Jeremiyah Love 27% (165)
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Draft an edge defender 21% (127)
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Draft an offensive tackle 7% (45)
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Draft a different position 2% (11)
Total votes: 618
Saints Eyeing EDGE-Based Trade-Up?
APRIL 23: NFL insider Jordan Schultz echoes the idea that New Orleans will be a team to watch regarding a move up the top-10 order. After the Jets make their selection at No. 2, it will be interesting to see how willing teams like the Cardinals are to work out a Saints swap.
APRIL 22: Mickey Loomis has made some memorable moves to climb up draft boards during his 23 years overseeing the Saints’ war room, and the longstanding GM is back on the radar for another such move.
The Saints have been mentioned as a team to monitor with regards to trading up for an edge rusher, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who names Arvell Reese as a specific player to watch — should he make it past the Jets. The Cardinals have shown steady interest in trading down from No. 3, and Daniel Jeremiah’s final 2026 mock has Arizona dealing that pick to New Orleans and moving down five spots.
[RELATED: Saints Open To Trading Spencer Rattler?]
New Orleans traded its 2023 first-round pick in a package to move up for Chris Olave in 2022, doing so before making a second trade to climb up the board for Olave. Four years earlier, Loomis and Sean Payton traded their 2019 first-rounder to move back into Round 1 for Marcus Davenport. The team traded up for linebacker Stephone Anthony in the 2015 first round, doing so after already taking Andrus Peat.
The Saints climbed up (via the Cardinals) from No. 27 to No. 20 for Brandin Cooks in 2014. The Saints traded their 2012 first to the Patriots to select Mark Ingram in the 2011 first round, moved up three spots for defensive end Sedrick Ellis in 2008 and climbed up three spots for tackle Jammal Brown in 2005. Loomis’ first draft as GM (2003) involved another trade-up with the Cardinals, who slid down 11 spots to give the Saints access to D-tackle Johnathan Sullivan.
Not all of these moves worked out, certainly, with Sullivan and Anthony becoming busts quickly. But Loomis — who does not appear to be on the hot seat despite a five-year playoff drought — has not traded down in a first round. The Saints have been linked to a wide receiver in Round 1, being previously mentioned as the floor for Ohio State’s Carnell Tate at No. 8. But Olave’s likely extension may be influencing the NFC South club here. The Saints are more likely to address their receiver issue on Day 2, according to EssentiallySports.com’s Tony Pauline.
The team has told agents it did not want to overinvest at receiver this offseason, per Pauline. While a rookie contract would complement a $30MM-plus-AAV Olave accord, the Saints also may be leery of sacrificing other areas to add a No. 2 wideout. The position has long been mentioned as a target in this draft; it just may not happen until Round 2.
One of them may be edge rusher. The team has not re-signed Cameron Jordan and could use help opposite Chase Young, where longtime sidekick option Carl Granderson resides at age 29. Granderson is under contract for two more years, but the Saints’ annual restructure frenzy has his cap number set to climb from $9.47MM this year to $20.92MM in 2027.
Reese might not cost what a quarterback would in a trade-up scenario, but if he makes it past the Jets at No. 2, teams will be calling. That could be an opportunity for the Cardinals to move down, though they have been linked to Jeremiyah Love in recent days. The Jets may also be coming around on Reese at 2, though Jeremiah still has David Bailey going to New York there. It is not known if the Saints view Bailey — a more polished pass-rushing prospect than Reese, a hybrid LB — as worthy of a trade-up, but Loomis’ history advises fans to not rule out a climb up the board early.
Cardinals See Arvell Reese As EDGE; Unlikely To Trade Up For Ty Simpson
The first pick of the 2026 NFL draft is essentially set. The Raiders will selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza shortly after proceedings start on Thursday night, with the Jets deciding between Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at No. 2.
The Cardinals will then be in the driver’s seat with plenty of options. They could take whichever of the Jets’ targets is still available, or pivot to a trade back for a team looking to come up, likely for an edge rusher or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. With a new, offensive-minded head coach in Mike LaFleur, Arizona could also take Love themselves.
Their decision will likely still depend on what the Jets do. New York seems to have settled on Reese, a hybrid linebacker/edge defender with a ton of NFL potential. But deciding to draft Bailey would not be a surprise, and the Cardinals would then have a shot at Reese.
Arizona has drafted hybrid linebackers in the first round of past drafts, including Isaiah Simmons in 2020 and Zaven Collins in 2021. Those picks did not quite work out, as both players struggled to find a role in the Cardinals defense.
But Reese may be a different beast. The Cardinals do see him as an edge rusher, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire, and may not move him around the defense as they did with Simmons and Collins. That would allow him to focus on harnessing his notable athleticism into pass rushing production rather than taking on a more diverse, complicated set of roles.
Arizona has also been increasingly linked with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson over the past month. They currently lack a long-term starter with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew tapped as stopgap options in 2026. However, the Cardinals are not expected to be aggressive pursuing Simpson, despite some chatter of a trade back up into the first round. Though the team likes him, per Balzer, they will only take him if he falls to one of their picks – likely No. 34 overall, the first pick in the second round. They may even see if he falls to their third-rounder (No. 65) with many teams seemingly targeting the 2027 quarterback class instead.
The Cardinals will draft a quarterback this weekend, Balzer adds, but they have explored the depth of the class. They have shown interest in NDSU’s Cole Payton, and several other passers coming out of Power 5 schools could also be on their radar. But it will all depend on how far those players fall. Arizona’s roster is full of holes, likely inspiring them to prioritize talent and value at each selection rather than honing in on individual positions.
Cardinals’ Coaching Staff High On RB Jeremiyah Love
Steadily mentioned as a team interested in trading down, the Cardinals are also seeing ties to Jeremiyah Love accumulate. The Notre Dame running back is a candidate to hear his name called anywhere from No. 3 to No. 7 (depending on trade maneuvers). He may not last long into that range.
The Raiders will almost definitely start the draft with Fernando Mendoza, while the Jets’ David Bailey-or-Arvell Reese decision may be skewing Reese — in what appears to be quite the close fight — at the final hour. This will leave the Cardinals with a few options at No. 3.
[RELATED: Pro Football Rumors 2026 NFL Mock Draft]
Arizona could take the edge rusher the Jets do not or pivot to an offensive lineman — perhaps Francis Mauigoa or Spencer Fano. No. 3 may be too early for Sonny Styles, but the Ohio State linebacker is not expected to escape the top eight. The decision the Cards may be wrestling with most, however, stems from either taking Love or trading down.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Cards finding a trade partner (the Saints) and moving down five spots, but this may be contingent on Reese remaining on the board. The Cardinals may be staring at Bailey. While Arizona may well be intrigued by adding the Texas Tech standout to complement Josh Sweat, we have not heard much buzz there. That could be by design. But Love has entered the equation with recent reports. If the Arizona coaching staff has a significant say, that may matter; the new Cards staff is quite high on Love, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Adam La Rose’s most recent PFR mailbag debated the merits of choosing a running back this high, and Love would become an immediate weapon in a backfield housing James Conner (31 next week) and recent free agency addition Tyler Allgeier. Even if an argument can be made the Cardinals are not a running back away (and have the position covered reasonably well, with Trey Benson also in the fold), the California Post’s Vincent Bonsignore notes the combination of a GM “acting out of self-preservation” and and owner “wanting to sell tickets” points to Love being a strong consideration barring a trade-down move. The coaching staff had time to discuss Love’s fit during his recent “30” visit. The franchise has not chosen a running back in Round 1 since Beanie Wells in 2009.
GMs on hot seats do not have much incentive to trade down. Although Dave Gettleman did so in his final draft by sliding down the board (allowing the Bears to take Justin Fields) and equipping eventual successor Joe Schoen with an extra 2022 first-round pick, an exec in danger of being fired will understandably want immediate help.
Love would provide that for Monti Ossenfort, whose rebuild took a major step back in 2025 via a 3-14 season that led to Jonathan Gannon‘s ouster. As this space has discussed, the Bidwill family has given GMs long leashes previously. Steve Keim and Rod Graves were on the job 10 years apiece. Keim was also in a much better place by Year 3, while Graves did not have a three-win season on his resume at this juncture. Ossenfort may indeed need a bounce-back season to avoid a post-Year 4 firing.
Love has been closely connected to both the Titans and Giants, with the Commanders serving as the RB’s floor (at No. 7). PFR readers expect Love to end up in Nashville, though a Wednesday report indicated Tennessee may go EDGE or WR at No. 4. If the Cardinals hear a strong enough offer, they could sell the pick to Washington or another Love-seeking team. But the prospect of Love teaming with Jacoby Brissett and/or Gardner Minshew — possibly with Ty Simpson in the queue via a trade-up from No. 34 — will be considered live entering draft weekend.
Cardinals Could Take Jeremiyah Love At No. 3, Prefer To Trade Down
APRIL 21: Hughes and Essentially Sports’ Tony Pauline echo the sentiment that Arizona will be active in looking to move out of the No. 3 slot. If the Cardinals stay put, the reports are split on the team’s preferred target. Hughes points to Love, while Pauline names David Bailey as the top option (provided he is not selected second overall by the Jets).
APRIL 20: It makes little financial sense to draft a running back with a top-five pick, but the Cardinals are considering taking Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick anyway.
Arizona would hand the Notre Dame standout a fully guaranteed contract worth just under $13.5MM per year, per OverTheCap. For several other positions, that would be a below-market rate – significantly so for wide receivers and edge rushers. Among running backs, though, Love would be at or close to the top of the positional market in both AAV and guarantees.
Is Love worth the opportunity cost of selecting a running back over a premium position with such a high pick? The Cardinals are coming around to the idea, per SNY’s Connor Hughes and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They currently have a backfield by committee – Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson, and James Conner – along with Zonovan Knight and Corey Kiner as depth.
Arizona’s primary trio is serviceable, but Love undoubtedly offers more instant impact and long-term upside. While the team is still figuring out its future at the quarterback position, new head coach Mike LaFleur could push for the best offensive skill player in the 2026 class.
The Cardinals have also been linked with a trade out of the No. 3 spot, potentially with a team looking to come up for Love. At present, they have just seven picks – all their own – in both the 2026 and 2027 drafts. Arizona may take Ty Simpson to solve their quarterback problem right away, but they could wait to target a stronger class next year.
As a result, the latest reports could be nothing more than a draft week smokescreen to drum up interest in the No. 3 pick by a team who has already talked themselves into taking a running back with a top-10 pick. Almost all of the other teams in the top 10 have been connected with Love at some point or another, primarily the Titans, Giants, and Commanders. They could be looking to move up to secure the potential superstar running back, while other teams could be looking to jump that trio by trading up to Arizona’s pick.
Monroe Freeling, Max Iheanachor, Kadyn Proctor Rack Up Pre-Draft Visits
It is exceeding difficult to find high-quality offensive tackle play outside of the first round, so teams searching for starters in next week’s draft will have to prioritize the position early on.
Miami’s Francis Mauigoa seems to have locked up OT1 status. Behind him are Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Western Michigan’s Max Iheanachor, and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, who are all expected to go in the first round.
Freeling, 21, has only one full season as a starter under his belt, and all of his starts have come at left tackle. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2025, but teams may still have to be patient with his development. Freeling previously visited the Chiefs and has also met with the Browns, Dolphins, and Rams, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Cleveland is searching for their next long-term left tackle, but with Dawand Jones already on the roster, they could allow Freeling to sit for a year as he gets his bearings in the NFL, if needed. Miami has Patrick Paul on the blind side, but right tackle Austin Jackson took a pay cut this offseason and is in the last year of his contract. Freeling would have a year to sit as he transitions to right tackle with the hopes of taking on the starting job in 2027. Los Angeles has a glaring hole at right tackle, but asking Freeling to switch as a rookie could be a tough task given his lack of experience. On the other hand, perhaps he is not so ingrained at the left tackle position and can quickly learn how to play on the right side.
Iheanachor may also need to develop in the pros. He had a long list of visits, including the 49ers, Bengals, Packers, Bears, Patriots, Eagles, Panthers, Ravens, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Bengals, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The 49ers need to find a successor to Trent Williams, as do the Eagles to Lane Johnson. The Bears only re-signed Braxton Jones on a one-year deal, and the Cardinals do not have a clear RT starter right now. The Bengals, Panthers and Ravens seem to be set with their offensive tackles, but they all have one expensive, aging starter. They would be able to give Iheanachor time to season before he takes on starting duties.
Proctor was a three-year starter at Alabama, making him a potential fit for Detroit, who parted ways with longtime left tackle Taylor Decker this offseason. The Lions, met with Proctor during the pre-draft process, as did the 49ers, Browns, Dolphins, Eagles, and Cardinals, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
For the Eagles specifically, The Athletic’s Zach Berman believes that Freeling or Proctor would be their preference in the first round. This makes sense for a team that has invested heavily in SEC talent, particularly out of Georgia. But with the No. 23 pick, Philadelphia may have to trade up to ensure they secure one of their two desired prospects.