As many anticipated, the Cardinals added to their quarterback room in the 2026 NFL draft . What wasn’t as expected was the quarterback they ended up taking.

Heading into the draft, many believed the Cardinals were in play for Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson. The Rams beat them to it by surprisingly taking Simpson at No. 13 in the first round—but the Cardinals did address the position Friday night by taking Miami quarterback Carson Beck in the third round.

Beck joins a quarterback room which already includes two backup-bridge type quarterbacks in Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II, and no longer features Kyler Murray, who was released in March. The room also features 2024 undrafted free agent Kedon Slovis, who projects as the fourth-stringer.…