Nomadic quarterback Gardner Minshew has found his sixth NFL team. Minshew will sign a one-year, $8.25MM contract with the Cardinals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A 47-game starter over his seven-year career, Minshew may be in the mix for playing time in Arizona. The Cardinals are moving on from longtime starter Kyler Murray, whom they plan to release. Journeyman Jacoby Brissett is on the roster as a de facto starter, but he could draw trade interest.
A 2019 sixth-rounder from Washington State, Minshew unexpectedly worked as the Jaguars’ primary starter in his rookie season. Nick Foles entered the year as the starter, but Minshew stepped in after he broke his clavicle in the opener. Foles returned later in the season, though he struggled enough that Minshew reclaimed the starting role.
While Minshew combined for 20 starts over his first two seasons, the Jaguars went just 7-13 during that stretch. Shortly before the 2021 season started, the Jags dealt Minshew to the Eagles for a sixth-round pick.
After two seasons as Philadelphia’s backup, Minshew signed a one-year, $3.5MM deal with the Colts to join first-round rookie Anthony Richardson in 2023. With multiple injuries limiting Richardson to four games, Minshew performed well over 13 starts. The Colts remained committed to Richardson, though, leading Minshew to accept the Raiders’ two-year, $25MM offer in 2024.
Even though Minshew went into ’24 as the Raiders’ starter, he was unable to hold the job for the whole year. The Raiders released Minshew after a disappointing season. He stayed in the AFC West to work as the Chiefs’ backup behind Patrick Mahomes last year. Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in Week 15, which could have given Minshew a chance to start for the rest of the season. However, making his first Chiefs start against the Titans the next week, Minshew went down with what was believed to be an ACL tear. It turned out to be non-displaced tibial plateau fracture.
Minshew was reportedly back to full health as of three weeks ago. The 29-year-old will now catch on with the Cardinals as the owner of a career 63.1% completion rate with 68 touchdowns, 35 interceptions and an 88.0 passer rating over 63 games.
Props to his agent for keeping him employed.
A supersub QB is never out of work for long.
Indeed
Minshew to back up Brissett smells like another 3-14 and a rookie QB next year
How was he so bad and got a raise still? 6/13 for 37 yards and an Int was raise worthy? LOL
Pelissero indicates that the contract is a 1 year, $5.75MM deal that could increase to $8MM if certain incentives are met.