Eagles Acquire, Extend Jonathan Greenard
The Eagles have made a major splash on Day 2 of the draft: They are acquiring edge defender Jonathan Greenard and a 2026 seventh-rounder from the Vikings, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
The Eagles and Greenard have agreed to a four-year, $100MM extension with $50MM guaranteed. The Vikings will receive a 2026 third-rounder (No. 98) and a third-rounder next year (Minnesota ended up taking Miami safety Jakobe Thomas at No. 98).
Philadelphia’s interest in Greenard first became public before free agency opened in early March. The team then lost one of its best edge defenders, Jaelan Phillips, who inked a four-year, $120MM contract with the Panthers. The Eagles later added Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on modest pacts, but they continued pushing for Greenard.
The Vikings and Greenard were optimistic he would stay in Minnesota and potentially ink an extension, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Instead, though, he will head to the second NFC destination of his career. The trade will save the Vikings a whopping $34MM in cap space, Schefter relays. They entered Friday with around $4.83MM in breathing room (via Over the Cap).
As a 2020 third-round pick from Florida, Greenard started his career with the Texans. After a quiet rookie year, Greenard began showing off his pass-rushing chops in 2021. Despite missing five games with a foot injury, he notched 12 QB hits and eight sacks. Another injury, this time to his calf, held Greenard to eight games during a 1.5-sack showing in 2022. Greenard mostly stayed healthy in 2023, the final season of his rookie contract, and his production exploded. Teaming with then-rookie Will Anderson Jr., the 6-foot-3, 259-pound Greenard put up 52 tackles (15 TFLs), 22 QB hits and 12.5 sacks in 15 games.
Greenard’s best season in Houston wound up as his last. The Vikings, who would lose Danielle Hunter to the Texans in free agency, brought in Greenard as his replacement. Playing the first season of a four-year, $76MM deal in 2024, Greenard continued to thrive en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. He logged his first 17-game season and recorded 59 tackles (18 TFLs), 22 QB hits, a career-best four forced fumbles and 12 sacks.
Health issues reared their head again in 2025 for Greenard, who battled a shoulder injury and underwent surgery in December. Greenard ended the season with 38 tackles (10 TFLs), 12 QB hits and three sacks in a dozen games. While Greenard’s traditional production wasn’t great, Pro Football Focus ranked his play a solid 31st among 119 edge defenders. He finished 17th in hurries (35) and 30th in pressures (47). Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner stepped up during a limited year for Greenard, and they will remain in key roles for the Vikings next season.
Set to turn 29 in May, Greenard will now join Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith as the Eagles’ top pass rushers. If healthy, Greenard could help form a monstrous front in Philadelphia, whose Vic Fangio-led defense boasts an incredible collection of D-tackles (Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo) and linebackers (Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell).
The Greenard acquisition may not end up as the last blockbuster trade of the offseason for aggressive Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. Expectations are Roseman will ship out wide receiver A.J. Brown sometime between June 2 and the start of the season.
Steelers Draft QB Drew Allar At No. 76
The Steelers have not heard if Aaron Rodgers will play a 22nd season, and while they expect to hear from their 2025 starter that he will return soon, another quarterback is heading to Pittsburgh. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who visited with the team this month, is going to the Steelers at No. 76 overall as the fourth QB off the board.
Allar is a clear development pick; he didn’t even start playing quarterback until high school. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Allar boasts a prototypical frame reminiscent of the late 2000’s and 2010’s battles between Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco. He has a decent arm and above average mobility for a passer his size, rushing for 732 yards and 12 touchdowns at Penn State. The Nittany Lions went 26-9 with Allar as the starter under center.
After coming off the bench as a true freshman, Allar’s first year as a starter drew interesting results. The highlights saw elite discipline as he threw for 25 touchdowns and only two interceptions, but those results came with a 59.9% completion rate and only 202.4 passing yards per game.
He improved greatly in his second year as the starter, increasing his completion percentage to 66.5, but in three more games, he threw one fewer touchdown and eight interceptions while averaging just 207.9 yards per game. His final year in Happy Valley got off to a rough start. When a broken ankle ended his season, the Nittany Lions were 3-3 and Allar was averaging just 183.3 yards per game.
The production never quite matched the potential or the physical tools for Allar. He showed an ability to make anticipatory throws and read a defense with efficiency. His low interception rate was a benefit but really came as a result of a conservative passing approach, leading too often to second-guessing and active scrambling. The lack of accuracy stemmed from a lack of consistency on drop backs, messy footwork, and a lack of touch to layer throws. A perceived lack of chemistry with his receiving weapons was considered a factory for Allar’s inability to produce big plays.
If there’s anybody who can develop the production out of a quarterback that has oozed potential for four years, its new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Ideally, Rodgers does return to start as expected, allowing Allar to sit and develop while learning from McCarthy and a four-time MVP. If Rodgers doesn’t end up back in Pittsburgh, Allar should have an opportunity to compete for a role in the hierarchy with fellow Steelers’ draft picks Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.
Ty Simpson Fallout: Rams, McVay, Snead, Stafford, Lemon, Sadiq, Garoppolo, Ioane
While loosely connected to Ty Simpson entering the draft, the Rams were viewed as more likely to add a player that helped their strong 2026 roster compete for a Super Bowl title. In a move eerily similar to the Packers’ Jordan Love pick six years ago, the Rams came out of Round 1 with Simpson — who may well sit behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons.
Discussions about this pick pivoted from whether Simpson was a reach at No. 13 to whether Sean McVay was enthused about the selection. McVay’s post-draft presser left plenty to be desired on the latter front. For instance, McVay made this comment shortly after the choice:
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
[RELATED: Rams Considered Joe Flacco In Free Agency]
This situation technically makes Simpson the backup quarterback — McVay went as far as to say Simpson will compete with disappointing holdover Stetson Bennett for the gig — but the Rams paid Jimmy Garoppolo barely $3MM to handle that role over the past two years. Dynamics in play here certainly separate this from merely staffing the QB2 job. With the exception of the Packers’ three-year Love developmental plan, QBs chosen in Round 1 play as rookies or, at the latest, by Year 2. Stafford is going into an age-38 season and is expected to sign an extension soon.
The Packers did add Love ahead of a Rodgers MVP season, but Stafford coming off an MVP campaign and seeing his team draft his successor is uncovered ground. No team rostering a reigning MVP quarterback has chosen another passer in the first or second round since the 1970 merger. But that is Stafford’s reality now. While this situation differs from the clunky Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. setup, as Stafford is unlikely to be benched anytime soon, a clock is almost certainly in place on his Rams tenure — rather than a Super Bowl frontrunner augmenting his current roster.
Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix to go to L.A. at 13, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but this does not appear to have been a McVay-Les Snead power struggle. A personnel source informed Fowler that Simpson being there at 13 meant the Rams were taking him, going so far as to say the Alabama prospect compared favorably to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza by some in the team’s building.
McVay “absolutely” was onboard with the pick, another source told Fowler, with a separate team source indicating the duo was in lockstep by “all indications.”
“I think Sean had a chat with Matthew before last night. And that’s one thing that Matthew’s definitely earned,” Snead said, via The Sedano and Cap Morning Show (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons) “It’s one of the things that we’re working together to go through it. Matthew is on his way to, I would say this, a Hall of Fame career, right? And he still has gas left in the tank. And big picture, our vision’s always been, ‘Hey, let’s make the most of this time with Matthew and his teammates — let’s chase special together, however long that may [last].’ There’s no timeline on this. The longer, the better. Matthew just came off an MVP season, so if he continues playing, it’s like, this is better for everyone involved.
“And I think at the end of the day, Sean and I are going to always work together in these types of decisions. … But there was a lot that was going on into maneuvering that draft. So, we’re in lockstep. We work together. We’re collaborative. It’s him and I partnering to try to do the best for the Rams.”
Snead played in the SEC (at Auburn) around the same time Simpson’s father (Jason) was at Mississippi State. Jason Simpson, the longtime HC at Tennessee-Martin, consulted with Snead on whether Ty should declare for the draft or stay in college. Snead said Ty was a first-round-level talent, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Simpson received $5MM and then $6.5MM offers from Miami to transfer there for the ’26 season, according to Pelissero. Snead had his eye on Simpson dating back to the fall, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.
These discussions commenced before Alabama’s Rose Bowl game. Miami’s second offer would have compared to a second-round guarantee, but Simpson’s No. 13 overall pact will be worth $25.77MM fully guaranteed (per OverTheCap). When Ty’s parents discussed the QB’s future with Snead before his draft declaration, Pelissero indicates the longtime Rams GM conveyed a real possibility the Rams would draft him in the first round. (While the Rams’ draft slot was not known at that point, L.A. knew where its Atlanta-obtained pick would land since the Falcons’ season had ended.)
Simpson declared for the draft Jan. 7 — three days after the Falcons’ season wrapped — and the Rams carried a rare opportunity to find a Stafford heir apparent. The team’s draft slot regularly comes outside the top 20; it landed at No. 29 this year. The Rams traded their own pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, and the draft community had viewed that swap as a decision that would likely send Simpson elsewhere. The Rams were viewed as high on Simpson but were considered more likely to draft him at 29 than at 13 (or via a trade-down from 13).
Even if this was a Snead-based pick, McVay has held tremendous input since arriving in L.A. nine years ago. A source familiar with the organization’s inner workings told FanSided’s Jason La Canfora that McVay “pulls all the triggers, and especially on a quarterback.” It would be highly unlikely a coach with McVay’s track record would be overruled by his GM, leading some in the league to view McVay’s lack of post-draft enthrallment for the pick as performative for Stafford’s benefit.
McVay indeed called Stafford on Thursday, per Jones. This differed from the Falcons’ approach, as they famously did not call Cousins before the Penix pick. Stafford is on a different QB tier than Cousins, and while it will be interesting to hear the veteran passer’s thoughts on the move, Simpson will be expected to sit for a while. The move also came partially due to Garoppolo uncertainty, per Fowler, though that assuredly played a small part in this. Garoppolo, whom the Rams had wanted back, is considering retirement.
McVay said (via Jones) he does not believe this pick will affect Stafford extension talks. The Rams have reached revised deals with their five-year starter in each of the past two offseasons, but with the QB unsigned for 2027, a true extension is on the docket this year.
Stafford pursued a $50MM-plus-AAV deal last year, being allowed to explore a trade, but backed down — after aggressive Raiders and Giants pushes — and signed a reworked Rams pact that brought a $40MM early guarantee. Simpson’s status aside, Stafford will still carry considerable leverage in Rams talks. Though, it is worth wondering if Simpson’s arrival will affect how much in future guarantees the Rams will want to offer.
Tied closely to the Rams coming into the draft, Lemon fell to 20th (via an Eagles trade-up in front of the Steelers). The Rams also considered tight end Kenyon Sadiq, per Fowler, who adds Caleb Downs — had he fallen to 13 — was on the team’s radar. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it landed Downs at No. 11. The Rams have pursued a young weapon in each of the previous two first rounds. They sought Brock Bowers in 2024 and made an offer for No. 8 overall — believed to be a Tetairoa McMillan aim — in 2025. They also were linked to Emeka Egbuka in last year’s first round.
That makes the Simpson-over-Lemon call interesting, but if the Rams are right on the passer (and they certainly have an optimal setup to develop one given McVay’s success), that will end up being the right play long term.
The Rams also received calls from teams eager to move ahead of the Ravens (at No. 14) for guard Vega Ioane, and while it would have made sense to explore sliding down and picking up assets, the team stood pat. That certainly furthers the belief McVay was firmly in Camp Simpson, despite the Crimson Tide signal-caller being a one-year college starter. Simpson, who was linked to the Cardinals and Jets (among other teams) in this draft, preferred to end up in L.A., Fowler adds.
Green Bay has seen its Love investment pay dividends, though its 2020 squad — despite a Rodgers MVP effort — fell just short of Super Bowl LV. The Packers have not been that close since, with a non-QB first-round pick potentially enough to make the difference in that Buccaneers matchup five Januarys ago. But the Packers have since extended Love, who has become an upper-crust QB. The Rams had not brought in a starter-level draft prospect under McVay, though the HC developed Snead draftee Jared Goff upon arrival.
The Simpson project will be scrutinized, but this will remain Stafford’s show for a while. The extension talks will be the next chapter to follow here, and it will be fascinating how long the Rams truly commit to their likely Hall of Fame-bound starter — and, perhaps, how long he now wants to commit to the team — now that they have his likely replacement rostered.
Packers, Jayden Reed Agree To Extension
Shortly before the start of the draft’s second day, the Packers have worked out an extension agreement with receiver Jayden Reed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports a three-year deal worth $50.25MM in new money (including $20MM guaranteed) has been finalized.
Reed’s $16.75MM AAV slots him in as the 29th-highest paid wide receiver in the league, a solid deal for the Packers. The 2023 second-rounder flashed as a rookie before putting together an impressive sophomore campaign with 11.4 yards per target and 15.6 yards per reception. Both numbers ranked among the league’s top six wideouts and raised expectations entering 2025.
However, Reed suffered a broken clavicle in Week 2, forcing him into injured reserve until December. He took the time off to also undergo surgery to address a Jones fracture in his foot that he originally intended to play through. Reed returned in Week 14 and caught 16 of his 17 targets for 162 yards – an efficient but low-volume stat line – over his final five games.
Paying less than $17MM per year for an efficient slot receiver is a good bit of business for a Packers team that has generally avoided signing veteran receivers to multiyear deals. They have consistently spent draft capital at the position – including a first-round pick on Matthew Golden last year – allowing them to trade Dontayvion Wicks and let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency this offseason.
Wicks, who has seen declining production in each of his three NFL seasons, received a one-year, $12.5MM extension from the Eagles. Doubs has never been as efficient as Reed and signed a three-year, $51MM deal with the Patriots that included $35MM guaranteed.
Comparatively, Reed’s contract seems to offer more upside with significantly less guaranteed money (and therefore much lower risk). He, Golden, and Christian Watson will form Jordan Love‘s top trio of wideouts in 2026, and potentially beyond if Green Bay ponies up for another Watson extension, too.
Watson signed a one-year, $11MM deal in September during his recovery from a January torn ACL. That looked like a steal for the Packers when the 6-foot-4 wideout returned to the field in October and averaged 61.6 yards per game and 11.1 yards per target across the final 10 games of the season. Carrying that performance into 2026 could price him out of Green Bay, but it would also motivate the team to pay another proven receiver who has an established connection with their franchise quarterback.
Teams Calling Texans About Nico Collins
APRIL 24: Nick Caserio did not deny interested teams contacted the Texans on Collins, but the sixth-year GM said (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) the team will not move its No. 1 wide receiver. Two seasons remain on Collins’ three-year extension.
APRIL 23: The draft represents a major checkpoint on the NFL calendar when it comes to high-profile player movement. Several veterans are always the subject of calls from suitors, and one of the Texans’ offensive pillars is on that list.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports teams are calling Houston about Nico Collins. He adds no trade is currently expected, but traction on this front will be worth monitoring. Per Schultz, interested teams are operating with the assumption a Collins extension will be sought out this offseason.
After two seasons with modest production, Collins saw his production surge. The former third-rounder topped 1,000 yards in 2023, a feat he has matched each of the past two years. Collins, 27, is attached to the three-year, $72.75MM extension he inked in 2024. The pact contains $20.63MM in compensation for the coming season, but it does not include any guaranteed salary for 2027.
No later than next spring, it would thus come as no surprise if Collins and his camp sought out a new deal. The receiver market has continued to surge, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba recently moved the bar to $42.15MM in average annual value with his monster Seahawks extension. In terms of AAV, Collins currently ranks 18th leaguewide at the WR position. Moving up the pecking order could very well be a goal when negotiations commence.
The Texans have Collins and 2025 draftees Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in place at the receiver position. The team added Jaylen Watson that year, and he is on the books for one more season. Xavier Hutchinson‘s rookie contract runs through 2026, while Tank Dell is on course to return to action after a one-year absence. That depth could lead to Houston avoiding a notable receiver investment during the draft, but the team’s stance on that front could of course change if serious consideration were to be given to a Collins trade.
Steelers Trade Up Three Spots, Draft G Gennings Dunker
The Steelers are moving up three slots in the 2026 NFL Draft, sending the 99th and 216th picks to the Seahawks to select Iowa offensive guard Gennings Dunker at No. 96 overall. A three-year starter at right tackle for the Hawkeyes, it seems Pittsburgh has interest in Dunker on the interior offensive line.
At a school like Iowa that produces offensive linemen left and right, holding a starting job for three years is nothing to scoff at. After redshirting the 2021 season, Dunker debuted as a redshirt freshman coming off the bench for a few games at left and right guard before earning his first career start in the Hawkeyes’ bowl game. In 2023, Dunker was named the team’s starting right tackle, and he didn’t relinquish the role until he ran out of eligibility.
Most of the knocks on Dunker as a pro prospect focused on his abilities as an offensive tackle, but some of his best traits set him up well for a future as an NFL guard. Impressive upper-body strength will work well in a phone booth on the interior, and his strengths as a people mover in the run game will be well-suited on the inside, as well. Injuries hounded him at times throughout his time in Iowa City, but ultimately, he only missed two games (not counting his redshirt season).
The Steelers are confidently returning three starters on their offensive line from last year. Left tackle Broderick Jones has not inspired confidence in his abilities or durability over three years of play, and Pittsburgh selected Max Iheanachor on Day 1 to address that potential concern. The team also saw left guard Isaac Seumalo depart for Arizona in free agency, so Dunker will have a clear opportunity to compete for the open starting job there.
Browns Add No. 86 From Chargers, Add T Austin Barber
Holding nine more picks in this draft, the Browns will send some to the Chargers to move up to No. 86. Cleveland added Florida tackle Austin Barber.
Cleveland will send Nos. 105, 145 and 206 to Los Angeles, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Browns had just obtained No. 105 from the Giants.
The Browns came into this draft widely viewed as wanting to leave Round 1 with a wide receiver and a tackle. They will now leave Day 2 with two more reinforcements at each position. Cleveland traded down (via Kansas City) and took Utah’s Spencer Fano — this draft’s first O-lineman selected — at No. 9. The team then added KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston at Nos. 24 and 39. Barber will provide more help for a Browns team that lost nearly all of its 2025 O-line nucleus.
The 6-foot-7, 317-pound Barber garnered experience at both tackle spots at Florida, where he started 38 games. He was a full-time starter on the left side in his last two years with the Gators. Pro Football Focus awarded Barber the second-highest run-blocking grade among all tackles last season, a year in which he earned third-team All-SEC honors. Barber is likely to begin his NFL career as a swing tackle in Cleveland, which has made sizable offseason investments in Fano and Tytus Howard. After acquiring Howard from the Texans in early March, the Browns gave him a three-year, $63MM extension.
Packers Obtain No. 77 From Buccaneers, Add DT Chris McClellan
Green Bay will move up seven spots in Round 3, doing so courtesy of Tampa Bay. The Packers acquired No. 77 overall.
The Buccaneers will add Nos. 84 and 160 in this swap, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan is ticketed for Wisconsin.
McClellan is the third Mizzou defender to be taken tonight, following linebacker Josiah Trotter and edge rusher Zion Young. He joins a Packers team that traded Kenny Clark last August and saw Devonte Wyatt suffer a fractured ankle in December.
No. 82 overall on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, McClellan started for most of his time in Columbia. He was a disruptive presence as an interior pass rusher last season, racking up six sacks and eight tackles for loss. He batted down two passes in each of the past two seasons and combined for 13.5 TFLs in two Mizzou years.
Initially a Florida transfer, McClellan nearly broke the five-second barrier in the 40-yard dash despite weighing 313 pounds. The Packers also lost multiyear nose tackle starter Tedarrell Slaton during the 2025 free agency period. McClellan figures to factor prominently into the equation there as Jonathan Gannon takes over as DC. Gannon reunited with ex-Eagles charge Javon Hargrave in free agency as well.
Giants Add No. 74 From Browns, Draft WR Malachi Fields
The Giants have completed a 31-spot climb up the board in Round 3. They acquired No. 74 from the Browns and drafted Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields.
New York sent Cleveland Nos. 105, 145 and a 2027 fourth-round pick, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. A few wideouts came off the board between the the Giants’ selection of cornerback Colton Hood at No. 37 and their trade-up with the Browns. The Giants had not addressed the position in the draft, leading them to make an aggressive move to reel in Fields. He joins Hood, linebacker/edge Arvell Reese (fifth overall) and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa (10th) as the first four picks of the John Harbaugh era.
Fields spent the majority of his college career at Virginia, where he played from 2021-24. A foot injury limited Fields to one game in his second year with the Cavaliers, but he bounced back to post back-to-back seasons of 50-plus catches, 800-plus yards and five touchdowns.
After earning a third-team All-ACC nod in 2024, Fields transferred to Notre Dame. While playing with a freshman quarterback, CJ Carr, Fields’ catch total dropped to 36 in 12 games. However, he amassed 630 yards on a stellar 17.5 YPC and logged his third five-TD season in a row.
Heading into the draft, both Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 58) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network (No. 60) ranked Fields among the 60 best prospects in the class. The 6-foot-4, 218 pounder compares favorably to Michael Pittman Jr., per Brugler. Pittman is a six-year veteran with 485 catches and two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume. A similar career for Fields would be a nice outcome for the Giants, who are hoping he emerges as a formidable target for quarterback Jaxson Dart and a strong complement to No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers.
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.