The Hall of Fame Game didn’t just kick off the NFL preseason last Thursday. It put two young quarterbacks in the spotlight in a way that was hard to ignore.
Carson Beck and Haynes King were the names that stood out most, and both made the kind of impression that can stick with a team long after August.
Beck was sharp against Carolina, going 15 of 19 for 188 yards and a touchdown. King matched the moment in his own way, finishing 21 of 34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 39 rushing yards. His scrambling touchdown ended the game.
That kind of performance matters, even if it came in a game that won’t count in the standings. Beck spent his college career at Georgia and Miami, and last season he led the Hurricanes to the championship game. King was the ACC Player of the Year last season.
The bigger question now is what teams do with that information.
The Panthers are not about to hand the job to King coming out of camp, but if Bryce Young struggles, the leash should be short.
Arizona feels like the more interesting case. Jacoby Brissett is the likely starter over Gardner Minshew, but neither veteran looks like the kind of quarterback who can carry the Cardinals to the promised land, especially in the NFC West.
The Cardinals have reached the playoffs only once in the last 10 years, and that was their only season finishing above .500.
So the argument here is simple: give Beck a shot.
He has little to lose and plenty to gain. One night in the Hall of Fame Game was enough to make that case, and Beck should finish training camp as Arizona’s QB1 and start opening day in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Sometimes the answer is just to hand the kid the ball.
In Other News...
Michael Wilson Just Sent A Clear Message About Cardinals Plans
The Cardinals have spent plenty of time sorting out their future at wide receiver, and Michael Wilson has now given them another reason to feel good about the direction of that room. With general manager Monti Ossenfort already making it clear he wants Wilson around long-term, the receivers stance adds some clarity to an offense that is still shaping its core pieces for the seasons ahead.
For Arizona, that kind of alignment matters as much as any offseason move. Wilson has the look of a player the team wants to build with, not just around, and his message fits the broader picture of a front office trying to lock in reliable young talent before it becomes a bigger conversation later on. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Beck Is Creating Real Pressure On Arizonas QB Situation
Carson Beck has done enough early in camp to make Arizonas quarterback picture worth watching a little more closely. The rookie followed up a strong Hall of Fame Game showing with steady work in practice, and for a team that has already committed to Jacoby Brissett in the short term, that kind of efficiency from a young passer is exactly the sort of thing that can start conversations in the building.
Brissett is still the expected starter after signing his reworked deal in late July, but the margin around him can tighten quickly when a rookie keeps stacking good reps. He had a rough day on deep throws in a recent practice before working to clean it up afterward, and if Beck keeps pushing with the same composure and production, the Cardinals may have a real competition developing whether they planned for one or not. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Quarterback Battle Suddenly Feels Less Settled Than Expected
Arizonas quarterback picture was supposed to be pretty straightforward entering training camp, with Monti Ossenfort publicly backing Jacoby Brissett as the veteran answer. The general manager pointed to Brissetts NFL experience and the leadership he brings to the locker room, the kind of endorsement that usually settles at least the early part of a competition before the pads really start popping.
Carson Beck, though, has made things a little less tidy than expected. His showing in the Hall of Fame Game turned heads, and he has kept that momentum going in recent practices, enough to keep the battle active rather than academic. Early in camp, the Cardinals still have time to sort it out, but the gap between the presumed starter and the challenger looks a little narrower than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]