Carson Beck’s first NFL preseason outing gave the Arizona Cardinals enough to spark a big comparison from a familiar voice.
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel, who was at the Cardinals’ game against the Carolina Panthers, came away impressed after watching the rookie up close. Daniel, who played in the league from 2009 to 2022, said Beck reminded him of a star quarterback with a lot of runway left.
“Carson Beck looking like a young Matthew Stafford….the dude looks incredible comfortable. And just so you know… this is very difficult to do,” Daniel wrote on social media.
Beck’s debut backed up that kind of buzz, even in a short sample. He went 15-for-19 for 18 yards and a touchdown against Carolina, offering a glimpse of why Arizona made him a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Carson Beck looking like a young Matthew Stafford….the dude looks incredible comfortable.
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) August 10, 2026
And just so you know… this is very difficult to do pic.twitter.com/jslOw59nxE
The rookie arrives in the NFL after a long college career that stretched six years. Beck spent five seasons at Georgia before finishing at Miami, where his final year turned into a standout campaign. He helped lead the Hurricanes to the national championship game, where they fell to the Indiana Hoosiers.
That production is part of what made Beck an appealing prospect for Arizona. In his lone season at Miami, he completed 338 passes for 3,813 yards and 30 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
Now he enters a quarterback room that includes Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis as he tries to carve out his place in the league. The Cardinals are also trying to move forward after parting ways with Kyler Murray and entering a rebuilding stretch.
Arizona is coming off an NFC-worst 3-14 finish in 2025, and the goals are bigger than just getting through the season. The team is aiming to reach the playoffs for the first time in four years and snap a 10-year drought without an NFC West title.
The Cardinals open the season on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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