Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said “it won’t be the worst thing for him” if Carson Beck ends up sitting for part or all of his rookie season.

03 May 2026

“It benefits anyone in any position to be able to sit back,” LaFleur is quoted as saying by ESPN. “Sometimes, guys don’t have the choice because you have to put your best 22 out on the field there.” Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew currently occupy the two spots ahead of Beck on the depth chart. It doesn’t seem like there’s any reason to believe that the Cardinals are pushing Beck to play this year, which is exactly the return you want from your high third-round pick.