Miami QB Carson Beck Predicted to Potentially Replace No. 1 Overall Pick

Since the College Football Playoff National Championship between the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana Hoosiers, there has been little public movement from quarterback Carson Beck.

The last time Beck was seen outside of postgame interviews, he was walking off the field at Hard Rock Stadium shortly after throwing a game-sealing interception.

Miami regained possession with just over a minute remaining and a chance to take the lead. After crossing midfield, Beck launched a deep pass intended for Keelan Marion, but it was intercepted by Indiana’s Kamari Sharpe.

“A lot of credit to them and their defense,” Beck said afterward. “They played really, really well tonight. Again, in the moment you react and that’s what happened. He made a really good play on it. You can sit back and think of every if and or but situation after, but that’s what happened. It sucks and you know it’s going to sting for a while.”

For Beck, that moment must quickly move to the rearview mirror with the 2026 NFL Draft approaching in April.

More Miami Hurricanes on Heavy: Miami’s Carson Beck Gets Concerning NFL Draft Projection

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Carson Beck Projected as Day 2 Pick in 2026 NFL Draft

With Super Bowl LX now complete, draft projections and mock drafts are beginning to ramp up ahead of April 23.

Where Beck ultimately lands is far from certain, but NFL.com’s Chad Reuter projects him to the Arizona Cardinals in the third round at No. 65 overall — placing him squarely on Day 2.

That outlook is far more favorable than Fox Sports analyst Rob Rang’s projection.

“For a quarterback of his experience, however, Beck also shows a disturbing lack of poise in critical moments,” Rang wrote. “In my opinion, his game-sealing interception was more of an instinctive play by Indiana cornerback Jamari Sharpe than a poor read or inaccurate throw by Beck. Regardless, it was a missed opportunity by the quarterback to boost his stock. Instead, it probably leaves him still waiting to hear his name called until Day 3.”

That likely isn’t the draft positioning Beck envisioned when he transferred to Miami in 2025 in hopes of rebuilding both his résumé and reputation. The fifth-year quarterback appeared to be seeking the kind of late surge that elevated Cam Ward.

Ward was initially projected as a fifth-round selection before transferring to Miami. After a breakout season, he ultimately went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Earlier in his career at Georgia, Beck was once viewed as a potential top quarterback prospect for the 2025 draft cycle. But inconsistencies and injuries slowed that trajectory.

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Could the Arizona Cardinals Be a Landing Spot for Carson Beck?

The quarterback situation in Arizona remains unsettled heading into 2026.

Much will depend on how head coach Mike LaFleur and general manager Monti Ossenfort approach Kyler Murray’s — and his remaining contract — future with the franchise.

On Feb. 8, NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported during “NFL GameDay Morning” that the Cardinals are likely to move on from Murray.

If that materializes, it would create an obvious opening at the position — though it would not guarantee Beck anything.

Veteran Jacoby Brissett remains on the roster, and Arizona could also explore free agency.

Still, landing in Arizona would place Beck in an offensive-minded system and potentially provide a realistic opportunity to compete for a starting job sooner rather than later.

Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker