The final week of voluntary organized team activities serves as the NFL's annual rehearsal before the full intensity of the season unfolds. For the Arizona Cardinals, these last three OTAs before mandatory minicamp were the first extended opportunity to observe the franchise's 2026 draft class in a pro environment. Among the rookies, running back Jeremiyah Love and quarterback Carson Beck emerged as standouts, providing early insight into the team's evolving roster.
Arizona used the third overall pick in April's draft to select Love, marking the highest the franchise has invested in a running back since the days of the St. Louis Rams. This move was deliberate and somewhat unconventional given current positional value trends. General manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur envisioned a back who could redefine the team's offense.
Love began to prove that vision during OTAs.
" He can do so many things well," Love said confidently. "That could be just a normal running back in the backfield and handing the ball."
This self-assessment aligns with what coaches have seen on film. Love's running style is smooth and patient, trusting his acceleration through open lanes rather than relying on flashy moves behind the line of scrimmage. At Notre Dame, he averaged an impressive 6.4 yards per carry over three seasons. Additionally, his receiving ability--48 catches across the 2024 and 2025 seasons--provides the Cardinals with a versatile weapon who can also line up wide.
"He has really good hands and ball skills and runs really good routes," Love added. "That's a conflict for a defensive coordinator. Do you want to treat him as a running back?"
This dual-threat capability complicates defensive game-planning. The NFL offense has increased its focus on mismatches created by versatile players. A running back who can effectively run routes like a receiver and command safety coverage, while remaining a reliable rusher, forces defenses to adjust prior to the snap. Love presents precisely that challenge.
The Cardinals already have experience and depth at running back. James Conner, recovering from an injury-limited 2025 season where he totaled 95 rushing yards and one touchdown in three games, remains on the roster. Tyler Allgeier, acquired via free agency after a solid 2025 with the Falcons (514 rushing yards, eight touchdowns), offers a dependable short-yardage option. Bam Knight brings a versatile change-of-pace role, having gained 269 rushing yards with four touchdowns last season.
However, Love stands apart as a dynamic weapon capable of impacting the offense from the start. The franchise has not possessed a back of his caliber and versatility since David Johnson's peak in 2016.
"I think he can do whatever he wants to do," Love said. "As long as he stays healthy, he's got high aspirations."
The OTA footage supports this optimism. Love demonstrated decisiveness in the running game, excellent ball tracking on wheel routes, and the situational awareness to adjust routes against zone coverage. While not a finished product, he appears ahead of the typical development curve for rookie backs.
"He kind of had an idea that if Bailey was going to be going to the Jets, Jeremiah Love was likely going to be calling the desert home," Love said, referencing pre-draft speculation linking him to New York.
The Arizona desert is a challenging environment for rookies, but the Cardinals' young, yet experienced offensive line should provide Love with ample support. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., drafted 11th overall in 2023 and entering his fourth season, anchors the line alongside center Hjalte Froholdt.
The backfield competition remains fluid. Conner, at 31 years old, is no longer the focal point, while Allgeier excels in short-yardage situations. Knight holds value as an offensive change-up on third downs. Love, however, brings the highest ceiling if able to stay healthy. The OTAs suggested that Coach LaFleur envisions a meaningful role for him right away.
"You've got to be healthy, you've got to be able to play this game a long time," Love said. "I think it takes a lot of good fortune to ultimately become a Hall of Famer."
Though that goal might sound distant, it reflects the mindset behind drafting him third overall. The pick was deliberate and reflects a long-term offensive vision.
The other rookie attracting attention at OTAs was third-round quarterback Carson Beck, selected 65th overall from Miami. Beck joins a quarterback room led by starter Jacoby Brissett, who threw for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2025, and backup Gardner Minshew II.
Beck's role in 2026 is clear: he is not expected to start immediately but to develop behind seasoned veterans.
"I'm super confident in that type of offense," Beck said. "And you know how it's ran and obviously it's probably a little bit different and maybe a little more upgraded."
The upgraded system refers to LaFleur's offense, which draws from the Shanahan-McVay coaching tree. It demands a quarterback capable of quick processing, pre-snap adjustments, and precise timing. Brissett fits this mold, and Beck is working to match those expectations.
"It creates efficiency when you're able to go through progressions when you're able to check in and out of plays from run to pass," Beck explained.
During OTAs, Beck showcased the arm talent that made him a top-10 recruit in high school. His deep throws display both velocity and touch, while his intermediate accuracy remains solid. The major challenge ahead is adapting to the increased speed and complexity of NFL defenses.
"How fast can you play, how fast can you process knowledge, fasten so it's just all mental," Beck said. "There's always so much more to learn."
His path to playing time is not straightforward. Brissett holds the starting job securely, and Minshew has proven capable in backup roles across three organizations. There is no urgency to push Beck into starting situations, especially given his recent recovery from elbow surgery that sidelined him for four months.
"It was really tough not only physically obviously not being able to throw a football for four months but the mental side is really hard," Beck reflected.
Reports indicate Beck has fully recovered. He took snaps with the second-team offense during OTAs and demonstrated command and confidence in the huddle. His grasp of the offense and readiness surpass many third-round rookie quarterbacks at this stage.
"I think the experience and the games and the moments and the pressure definitely renders you ready," Beck said. "From the time I was a freshman in high school really I knew that this is what I wanted to do and I really committed my life to it."
In 2026, Beck's role is primarily as an understudy, absorbing the offense and preparing to step up if called upon. His performance during OTAs indicates he is progressing well.
"You can feel that they want you to get better as players," Beck said.
While the rookies impressed, the final OTA week lacked full attendance. The Cardinals did not confirm the full roster presence, but one notable absence raised eyebrows. The missing player is someone expected to have an important role in 2026.
The organization has not disclosed the reason. Attendance at voluntary OTAs is not mandatory, but with mandatory minicamp approaching, the absence adds a layer of uncertainty.
Historically, such absences preceding required camp sessions can result from contract negotiations, personal matters, or lingering health issues. Until the situation resolves--either by the player arriving for minicamp or not--the status remains speculative. Though the franchise has encountered greater distractions, missing reps could have cumulative effects as the roster gels for a season with playoff aspirations, even if odds are long.
The position group affected is one where Arizona has invested considerable resources. If the player does not return, concern will escalate. If he does and participates fully in training camp, the absence will be a minor footnote.
While OTAs rarely reveal definitive answers, the final voluntary sessions provided the Cardinals' staff with valuable clarity on their rookie contributions. Love looks poised to become a focal point of the offense's future. Beck shows promise as a developmental quarterback with tools and polish beyond typical third-round prospects. Meanwhile, the unexplained absence reminds all that football's business realities persist year-round.
Mandatory minicamp will open soon with stakes raised. Attendance is compulsory, practice intensity will increase, and the rookies who turned heads in these voluntary sessions will face their first true NFL test.
The Cardinals have not approached a campaign with this blend of youthful talent--across skill positions and skill sets--since the era of Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer. This group carries size, speed, and flexibility that fuel hope.
Now the challenge is turning promise into production.