Projected as the first-round pick in 2025, the Arizona Cardinals drafted Carson Beck in the third round in the 2026 NFL Draft. The former Miami Hurricanes quarterback walked into his first OTA practice with questions about his personality, his injury history, and his interceptions. But the Cardinals' head coach made his feelings clear.

Mike LaFleur took Beck through his first practice directly, not on arm talent or playmaking, but on something more fundamental. 

"I was impressed with him today in terms of just hearing the play calls," LaFleur said of Beck, as reported by Yahoo Sports. "Obviously, he's heard me speak, we've talked, he knows what the reads are and all that, but it's the first time he's ever heard the mic going into his helmet."

Teams have reportedly questioned his personality because he was known for being more reserved and distant.

"Some questions about his personality remain, with NFL teams hearing he was a bit of a loner," reported Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

While that isn’t a bad thing, it’s not always what NFL programs prefer for the quarterback position. In Breer’s report, one anonymous AFC coordinator said Beck's “personality” would keep them from wanting to work with him.

However, LaFleur did not face any difficulty with Beck because of his personality.

"So you never know how that's going to be," he said. "I might sound muffled, I might sound like whatever. I thought he did a really good job of hearing me communicate and that kind of stuff."

Beck spent five years in college, between Georgia and Miami, showing up in 55 games and throwing for 11,725 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions.

ESPN’s Matt Miller said that Beck’s College Football Playoff run “changed the narrative on him”, and now there are plenty of believers across the NFL about his starting ceiling. Still, Arizona is moving with a patient mindset, more measured than rushed.

Where Things Stand for Carson Beck in the Arizona Cardinals

The team’s projected starting quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, has stayed away from voluntary workouts amid a contract-related standoff. This led to Gardner Minshew's rising chances to start. However, at 30, he isn’t the long-term answer. LaFleur had already said that Beck is built for the job. 

"He's been through those big games, but he's been through some adversity, too," LaFleur said shortly after the draft. "And I think he's gotten better from it."

Beck led Miami to the national title game last season, throwing for 3,813 yards and 30 touchdowns during his single season in the Hurricanes squad. However, his UCL surgery and then the whole recovery thing show off some durability concerns.

At the same time, he threw 12 interceptions in back-to-back seasons and has taken some sacks.

One impressive OTA throw does not change the fact that the quarterback still needs development. If the season falls apart, the Cardinals could also find themselves in a position to target another top quarterback prospect next year, with Arch Manning and Dante Moore already viewed as potential early picks.

Do you think Beck will earn the starting job in Arizona this season? Share your thoughts.

Read more at Quarter Back Central.

Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar