Why the Cardinals selected Carson Beck over Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 NFL Draft's third quarterback is off the board — but the QB selected directly behind Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson was not the passer many anticipated a few weeks ago.

The Arizona Cardinals took Carson Beck in the third round on Friday night, with the former Georgia Bulldogs and Miami Hurricanes star, fresh off an appearance in the 2026 national title game, now has a path to potential starting opportunities as a rookie behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew.

Beck, however, saw his draft stock increase more in recent weeks. Most projections initially had him falling behind higher-upside quarterbacks like LSU's Garrett Nussmeier or Penn State's Drew Allar.

Here's why the Cardinals went with Beck at No. 65 overall, opening the third round, over other options like Nussmeier and Allar.

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When NFL teams draft quarterbacks, they're often willing to ignore projections for a player they feel especially good about. Take Simpson for example — despite being an anticipated second-rounder this year, the Los Angeles Rams took the Alabama quarterback at No. 13 in the first round, one of the biggest surprises of the draft so far. When a college passer shows traits that could fit well with a team's scheme, they'll do what it takes to grab him.

For Beck, the Cardinals were clearly enamored with his compact release, years of starting experience and ability to keep an offense in rhythm. Beck, compared to players like Allar and Nussmeier, has shown far more steadiness over his college career, also leading his teams to more success, including a national title game appearance with Miami as the starter in 2025.

Beck may not have the flashy arm talent or physical tools like an Allar or Nussmeier, but the 6-foot-5 passer has proven to be a solid game manager who can maximize talent around him and, for the most part, had better college numbers than his two peers. Both Allar and Nussmeier still face questions on whether they can tap into their upside with big arms but past struggles in reading elite defenses.

Behind Brissett and Minshew, Beck will also have a chance to learn alongside multiple veterans in a Cardinals offense loaded with playmaking talent, including Jeremiyah Love, James Conner, Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride and Michael Wilson.

For those reasons, Beck could have a path to playing time as a rookie, especially if the losses start to pile up. As one of the higher-floor quarterbacks in this year's draft, Beck wound up landing higher than initially anticipated.

Here's a look at how Beck, Nussmeier and Allar compared across their college stats.