The Dallas Cowboys seemingly have their quarterback room completely locked in for the 2026 season. On top of the fact Dak Prescott is in line for another very productive season as the starter, Joe Milton is a solid backup with upside, and Sam Howell will join the team as QB3.
That hasn't stopped many of the mock drafters out there from believing the Cowboys would end up using one of their Day 3 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to bring in one of these quarterbacks. After some earlier Cade Klubnik projections, the next evolution of this movement seems to centr around another formerly elite prospect.
ESPN's Ben Solak believes that the Cowboys could use a fifth-round pick (No. 152 overall) on Miami quarterback Carson Beck, who was once thought of as a high-end player who could have challenged for the No. 1 overall pick during the apex of his long tenure with Georgia.
While the merits of drafting a quarterback in this class are still very much up for debate, picking Beck specifically would be a solid value selection, if nothing else.
ESPN projects the Dallas Cowboys will pick Miami QB Carson Beck in 2026 NFL Draft
Across his time with both Georgia and Miami, Beck went 37-5 as a starter and threw for over 11,000 yards and 88 touchdowns. The arm and ball placement are both above-average for the NFL, and he shows an ability to process quickly. The lightning-quick release will make him very attractive to quarterback coaches around the league.
Where Beck starts to falter is under pressure, as his decision-making when pressured and lack of escapability are going to be major walls he will need to overcome in the pros. Beck has had some moments where he hasn't always taken accountability in the way many would like to see from a quarterback.
Beck has value, but not to the Cowboys. Unless he goes on the hot streak of all hot streaks in preseason, it seems unlikely that he will unseat Milton as the backup quarterback. Selecting Beck would lead to him fighting it out with Howell for the QB3 role, which might not be worth a pick.
Not to mention, the former Hurricane is not the most accountable leader. Following a loss to Louisville in October, Beck threw Miami tight end Elijah Lofton under the bus, blaming him for the game-ending interception for running the "wrong route."
Not every player enters the NFL with maturity beyond their years, but a huge part of a QB's job is to be a professional behind the mic.
Beck could be a solid NFL backup, but he would add more noise to a quarterback room that would not need some of the extra bombast after a relatively low-key offseason that is unusual for Jerry Jones and the front office.