Carson Beck, Drew Allar Headline Quarterback Picks in NFL Draft Round 3/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Carson Beck and Drew Allar became the third and fourth quarterbacks selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, highlighting a thinner-than-usual QB class. The Arizona Cardinals selected Beck with the first pick of Round 3, while the Pittsburgh Steelers took hometown favorite Allar later in the round. Defense dominated Round 2, with 22 of 32 selections going to defensive players as teams prioritized pass rushers and secondary help.
NFL Draft Quarterbacks Quick Looks
- Carson Beck was selected No. 65 overall by the Arizona Cardinals
- Drew Allar went No. 76 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick by Las Vegas
- Ty Simpson was selected No. 13 by the Los Angeles Rams
- No quarterbacks were drafted in Round 2
- Pittsburgh fans gave Allar a mixed reaction at Acrisure Stadium
- Defense dominated Round 2 with 22 defensive players selected
Deep Look
Carson Beck Opens Round 3 as Quarterback Run Continues
The 2026 NFL Draft’s quarterback class may have been labeled thin, but teams still made sure to secure potential future starters before the third round was over.
Carson Beck, once viewed as a possible top overall pick, became the first player selected in Round 3 when the Arizona Cardinals took the former Miami and Georgia quarterback with the 65th overall pick Friday night.
Beck became the third quarterback selected in the draft, following Fernando Mendoza, who went No. 1 overall to Las Vegas, and Ty Simpson, who was taken No. 13 by the Los Angeles Rams.
For Beck, the moment marked a major shift after entering the draft process with far higher expectations months earlier.
Still, the quarterback made it clear he was focused only on the opportunity ahead.
“I’m super excited, super grateful, super blessed,” Beck said.
“I took a visit out there and loved the staff, loved Coach LaFleur.”
Arizona Gives Beck a Fresh Opportunity
Beck joins an Arizona quarterback room that already includes veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, giving him time to develop under rookie head coach Mike LaFleur.
The Cardinals see Beck as a long-term project with upside, especially after his five seasons at Georgia and his transfer year at Miami.
His arm talent and experience kept him high on many draft boards, but questions about consistency and fit made him one of the more polarizing quarterback prospects in the class.
Arizona now gives him a chance to reset expectations and compete without immediate pressure to start.
For Beck, landing in the right environment may matter more than where he was selected.
Drew Allar Stays Home With Steelers
The fourth quarterback came shortly after when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar with the 76th overall pick.
For Allar, the pick means he stays in Pennsylvania after an injury-filled college career.
The selection created a strong reaction inside Acrisure Stadium, where fans gathered to watch the draft live in record-setting numbers.
Some Steelers fans welcomed the move, while others reacted more cautiously because of Allar’s recent injury history.
His final college season ended last October after suffering a broken ankle.
Despite the concerns, Pittsburgh clearly believes his size, arm strength, and upside are worth the investment.
Pittsburgh Draft Crowd Makes More History
Pittsburgh had already made headlines by setting an NFL Draft attendance record on Thursday night.
The city drew 320,000 fans on Day 1, breaking Detroit’s previous record of 275,000 set in 2024.
That energy continued into Friday as Steelers fans packed the draft theater waving yellow Terrible Towels and reacting loudly to every local pick.
While Allar’s selection brought mixed emotions, fans roared in approval later when Pittsburgh selected Iowa guard Gennings Dunker.
Dunker, known for his red mullet, mustache, and standout athletic testing at the combine, quickly became a fan favorite during the pre-draft process.
His selection gave the home crowd exactly the kind of personality they love.
Round 2 Belonged to Defense
While quarterbacks grabbed headlines in Round 3, Round 2 was almost entirely about defense.
A massive 22 of the 32 second-round picks were defensive players as teams loaded up on edge rushers, cornerbacks, linebackers, and defensive tackles.
The Philadelphia Eagles also made one of the biggest moves by acquiring 2024 Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from Minnesota.
The Cincinnati Bengals used their first draft pick to strengthen the pass rush, selecting Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell at No. 41.
Atlanta chose Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 48th pick, while Green Bay added South Carolina corner Brandon Cisse at No. 52.
Teams across the league clearly viewed defense as the priority entering Day 2.
Steelers Finally Land Their Receiver
After missing out on USC standout Makai Lemon in Round 1 when he went to the Eagles, Pittsburgh addressed wide receiver later in the second round.
The Steelers selected Alabama’s Germie Bernard with the 47th overall pick.
It gave Pittsburgh another offensive weapon and balanced out the addition of Allar later in the draft.
The team continues trying to rebuild offensive consistency while also preparing for the future at quarterback.
Adding both Bernard and Allar shows the franchise is thinking beyond just the current season.
Eight Teams Made First Picks on Friday
Several teams had to wait until Friday night to make their first selections after sitting out Round 1.
Eight franchises did not have first-round picks, the second-highest total since 1970.
Only the 2022 draft had more, when 10 teams missed the opening round.
The San Francisco 49ers opened Day 2 by selecting Mississippi wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick after trading down twice.
The Buffalo Bills, who traded back three times, finally selected Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker at No. 35.
Jacksonville’s first pick was Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher.
Denver had to wait until Round 3 to make its first selection, taking Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim at No. 66.
Emotional Draft Moments Continue
As always, Day 2 also delivered emotional stories.
Two players who attended the draft in Pittsburgh but were not selected Thursday finally heard their names called back-to-back.
Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald went to Houston at No. 36.
Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood followed at No. 37 to the New York Giants.
Hood, who had returned home to Atlanta after waiting through Round 1, remained positive about the delay.
“Of course it was disappointing,” Hood said.
“I know God does everything for a reason. He was probably preventing me from something or he had something better in store for me, and that being the Giants.”
“I’m super excited to go into this next chapter of my life and will just go in there and give my best and give my all and be the best version of myself.”
Quarterback Class Still Under the Spotlight
Even with only four quarterbacks selected through three rounds, the position remains the center of attention.
Every team is searching for long-term answers at quarterback, and this year’s class forced teams to carefully decide when value matched need.
Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall confirmed his place as the top prospect.
Ty Simpson’s first-round selection showed confidence in his development.
Beck and Allar now enter situations where patience could help them most.
Whether this class proves stronger than expected will take years to answer.
But by the end of Friday night, four teams had decided their future might already be on the board.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.