The Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 NFL Draft class, which looked so promising back in April, is already on life support, with two of their top four picks on injured reserve for the season. But for General Manager Monti Ossenfort, his entire tenure now hangs by a thread, all riding on the shoulders of one player: Carson Beck.
Beck Has To Show Up, Or Else
Seriously, the pressure on Beck is insane. While Chase Bisontis and Kaleb Proctor, two of those top four injured picks, are now players to watch in 2027 and beyond, Ossenfort needs Beck to deliver this season. If he gets an opportunity, Beck absolutely has to show something. The Cardinals just cannot afford to be as terrible as everyone projects them to be. We’re talking about a franchise facing the prospect of a fourth top-five pick in five years under Ossenfort, which is just unheard of in this league. Yes, if Jeremiyah Love somehow isn’t the player everyone expects him to be, Ossenfort’s gone, but so would any GM who made that pick. Beck is the true make-or-break guy.
Ossenfort’s Draft History Has Caught Up
Ossenfort isn’t entirely to blame for healthy players getting hurt, that’s just the cruel nature of football. However, he’s also taken big swings on players with known medical concerns throughout his time in Arizona, and those guys have consistently sustained injuries in the NFL too. He needs Beck to erase that painful injury narrative that has plagued his draft selections. Ossenfort needs a definitive win, a pick he can point to as proof of his draft acumen. Unfortunately for him, Beck is the only answer. Unless you truly believe Jayden Williams can step up and be the starting right tackle for a potential playoff team, it all comes back to Beck.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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