Best 2026 NFL Draft landing spots for Miami QB Carson Beck

He led the Miami Hurricanes to a national championship appearance and is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. In a down year at the position, Carson Beck could hear his name called earlier than expected.

This year's draft class is defined by Fernando Mendoza at quarterback and a step down to the rest of the group. Leading up to April's draft, the rest of the class is jockeying for position behind the Heisman-winning Mendoza.

Beck started his career at Georgia and spent four seasons there, with two as a starter after Stetson Bennett was drafted in 2023. He was one of the top passers in the country in 2023 as the Bulldogs finished as runners-up in the SEC and Orange Bowl champions. But he took a step back in 2024 and ultimately transferred to Miami for the 2025 season.

The Hurricanes enjoyed their best result in years with a run to the national championship game with Beck at quarterback. Though they fell short of a title, Beck showcased why he'll likely hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Beck is an accurate quarterback who thrives on rhythm and anticipation. He's got enough athleticism to extend plays if needed and throws a catchable football for his targets. He's also played 55 games as a college football quarterback, many of them in high-leverage moments.

As Miami's many future NFL players show off at their pro day, here are four fits for the former Hurricanes and Bulldogs quarterback:

Carson Beck's best NFL fitsCleveland Browns

New Browns head coach Todd Monken inherits a roster he had little hand in building up. This is a win-now defense led by two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and an offense with multiple exciting young pieces in running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. The offensive line is re-worked with veteran options and could be addressed with either of the team's two first-round picks as well.

The Browns have question marks at quarterback with second-year passers Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel vying for a starting spot. Veteran Deshaun Watson could contend as well after recovering from his Achilles injuries but didn't look like a viable starter prior to those setbacks.

Monken served as the Georgia offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020 to 2022, working with Bennett and Beck. The latter has developed as a passer since being the Bulldogs' backup behind Bennett, but Monken is still familiar with him. Beck could be a low-risk option, Monken knows, and could be comfortable trying out at the position for a starting role.

Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis is down on draft capital thanks to the Sauce Gardner trade, so the Colts will likely address other needs on the roster with their earliest picks. Quarterback is a question mark as well in 2026, with Daniel Jones playing on a two-year deal and recovering from an Achilles injury. That's the kind of injury we've seen take players time to reach their pre-injury heights, if they do at all (e.g. Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers).

Indianapolis didn't touch the veteran quarterback market and banked on Jones, at least in the short term. But there's a good chance he's not fully ready to go for the start of the season and backup Riley Leonard suffered an injury as well in 2025.

Beck may be a late-round choice to come in and help the Colts feel a bit safer at the position as Jones returns from his injury. Given their lack of draft capital, Indianapolis may be hoping he can sign as an undrafted free agent.

Detroit Lions

Detroit's offensive ecosystem turned Jared Goff into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL. A mix of strong, diversified skill-position talent and one of the league's better offensive lines protecting him turned Goff into an above-average starter.

Beck compares well to a Goff-type quarterback. He's got prototypical size at 6-foot-5 and 233 pounds, making him durable enough to handle NFL defenders in his face. But he'll need a strong offensive line around him to stave off interior pressure, one of the weaker points of his game. Detroit's talents at running back (Jahmyr Gibbs), wide receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown) and tight end (Sam LaPorta) are good enough for him to operate in the point guard role he did in college and distribute the ball in the case of a Goff injury.

Dallas Cowboys

Like Detroit, Dallas has no shortage of offensive talent. The offensive line is one of the best units in the NFL and the wide receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens is the top 1-2 punch in the league. The Cowboys' running game is one of the better attacks under coach Brian Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams.

Starting quarterback Dak Prescott has dealt with injuries in recent years. He's missed time in four of the last six seasons, including extended time in 2020 and 2024.

Beck's experienced and knows how to point-and-shoot for an offense with plenty of firepower. The Georgia offense in 2023 had future NFL players Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey in the pass-catching corps. As he would in Detroit, he'd be a rookie backup with extensive college experience who could handle getting the ball out quickly to talented receivers. Dallas would likely have to change the game plan with him in, though, due to his below-average arm strength following UCL surgery in 2024.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carson Beck's best fits: Browns, Lions among NFL draft landing spots