The Arizona Cardinals have turned the page on the Kyler Murray era, and new head coach Mike LaFleur has made it clear that veteran Jacoby Brissett will lead the franchise in 2026. To bolster the quarterback room, the team brought in experienced backup Gardner Minshew and developmental prospect Kedon Slovis. But the most intriguing addition came in the third round of last month's NFL draft, when general manager Monti Ossenfort selected Miami quarterback Carson Beck.

All eyes will be on Beck when the Cardinals kick off their rookie mini-camp on May 8-9. While running back Jeremyiah Love will draw some attention, it's Beck's arm that has fans and analysts buzzing. Selected with the first pick of Round 3—and only the third quarterback taken overall—Beck was clearly hand-picked by LaFleur. Ossenfort may have crunched the numbers and scouted the intangibles at the Senior Bowl, Combine, and 30 visits, but this is LaFleur's domain: the offense.

A quarterback drafted in the first three rounds typically signals starter potential. Beck likely won't see the field this season, and maybe not even the next. But in the back of LaFleur's mind, the plan is clear: one day, Beck will trot out for Week 1 and lead this offense—his offense.

Just 18 months removed from surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, Beck is finally feeling like himself again. For a right-handed passer, that recovery was critical. "My arm feels great. It has for a while now," Beck said. "But being able to have an offseason to really train and focus on it—compared to last year when I was rehabbing, learning a new offense, and couldn't focus on the small, minute details—has been huge. This offseason has really helped."