I see Carson (a good person BTW) is in the mold of then Pence.
Noem is ok, but is she up for 2028 as well as getting her fingernails dirty in the massive clean out the swamp wars to come.
Ron failed on the national stage. Has being a governor dial in pretty good. Needs the next year to stabilize Florida and position for 2028, but too early to place on the ticket.
The advantage for Carson is twofold - first he's the best choice if the top of the ticket is Harris or Newsome. Two people who will toss the 'race card' into the game. And you're right about Carson - he is a good man, but I don't see him as a backstabber... He allows Trump to keep the hard earned new Black and Hispanic men vote. Which matters... Noem is great against Hillary or any democrat woman - and you're 100% right on DeSantis. He's not ready for prime time. But since he's governor of the state I live in and I get to see all the good things he's done, I usually toss him into any discussion of VP's. In two years Trump could appoint him Border Czar or something... IMHO