Could Carson Beck decision become stunner of 2026 NFL Draft?

Recent updates have hinted that Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the advertised second-best quarterback in this year's draft class, may not be taken in the first round of the player-selection process on Thursday night. 

Meanwhile, analysts have predicted for months that Miami's Carson Beck won't go off the board before the draft's third round at the earliest. During Tuesday's edition of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" program, league insider Tom Pelissero teased that one team could make a major splash to acquire Beck this week. 

Is one team planning to make a trade with Carson Beck in mind? 

"I would be surprised if Carson Beck is not off the board in round two," Pelissero explained, per Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. "And as multiple people I spoke to brought up again, given the fact that we've only got 13 to 15 guys with first-round grades in this entire draft, regardless of position, don't be 100% shocked if there is a scenario that somebody says, 'I need a quarterback. I'll even trade up into the bottom of round one to get Carson Beck on Thursday night.'"

Even if Aaron Rodgers returns to the Pittsburgh Steelers, as many expect he will, the fact that he's 42 years old could lead one to believe Pittsburgh is a potential landing spot for Beck. The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals are also teams that presumably "need" a quarterback badly enough to trade back into the first round for a prospect such as Simpson or Beck.

Why has Carson Beck's draft stock possibly changed?

For a mock draft published on Monday, ESPN's Jordan Reid predicted that the Steelers would be able to draft Beck with overall pick No. 99. However, it now sounds like Beck may not have to wait quite that long to hear his name called later this week. 

"Beck has really helped himself through the pre-draft process," Pelissero said. "Not in terms of the stuff on the field though...the more time he spent around teams in the process has made coaches and scouts feel better about him." 

Pelissero also suggested that it doesn't hurt that Beck, who is roughly 6-foot-5 and weighs 233 pounds, "physically looks like an NFL quarterback to boot." 

Beck clearly has some fans in NFL circles, but Pelissero's update could simply be a sign that the football world has reached the "silly season" portion of the predraft process.