The Cardinals signed Gardner Minshew, after Jimmy Garoppolo talks hit a snag, but are believed to view Jacoby Brissett as their starter. But the team’s primary 2025 starter is seeking a raise.
As a result of the contract issue, Brissett has not joined his Cardinals teammates at their first OTA workout. The quarterback is staying away for the time being, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Brissett is tied to a two-year, $12.5MM deal that brings a $4.88MM 2026 base salary.
Closely linked to Ty Simpson in the draft, the Cardinals saw the Rams outflank them for the Alabama product. The Rams viewed their division rivals as a threat for the one-year college starter, and after Los Angeles made the move to draft him at No. 13 overall, the Cardinals waited on a quarterback move. It is obviously not certain Arizona would have traded back into Round 1 for Simpson, but after the team saw the Rams intervene, Carson Beck became the rookie QB investment at No. 65 overall.
Beck accompanies the veteran arms here, as the Cardinals will almost definitely be linked to the 2027 QB draft class — a crop expected to bring better depth compared to this year’s — but they have Brissett and Minshew in place as stopgaps. Beck may be given the keys this season, as it would stand to reason the Cards will want to know how the recent CFP championship game starter looks in game action, but Mike LaFleur appears prepared to open the season with Brissett at the controls.
We heard before the draft Brissett was seeking a starter-level extension. It would make sense for the Cardinals to have one of their veteran arms under contract for 2027, as another bridge setup may need to be in place if the franchise drafts a first-rounder next year. Minshew is on a one-year, $5.75MM pact. That contract came nearly fully guaranteed. Brissett, 33, has just $1.5MM in guaranteed 2026 salary; that figure vested in March.
Brissett (65 career starts) is tied to backup money, but he has been largely viewed as such throughout his career. Brissett’s most notable work came in two separate stints replacing Andrew Luck. Acquired from the Patriots just before the 2017 season, Brissett started 15 Colts games as Luck missed the season with a shoulder injury. After the franchise QB’s sudden 2019 retirement, Brissett stepped back in as Indianapolis’ starter. His other notable starter stint came in 2022, when he was the Browns’ Deshaun Watson stopgap. Brissett reunited with ex-Browns QBs coach Drew Petzing last year, signing with a Cardinals team featuring Petzing as the play-caller. Arizona’s coaching change leaves his status murkier, and trade noise has emerged in the wake of the contract demand.
Minshew’s presence — and the general lack of expectations surrounding this Cardinals team — would stand to keep Brissett’s price point reasonable. Although the 2025 Giants showed two stopgap veterans (Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston) can stay on a team with a rookie QB investment, the Cardinals could certainly get by with just Minshew accompanying Beck.
This Cards regime has traded a bridge starter in the past, unloading Josh Dobbs (to the Vikings) at the 2023 deadline — as Kyler Murray finished off his ACL rehab. With Minshew signing to play in LaFleur’s offense, Brissett’s name will be one to watch in the coming weeks and months. GM Monti Ossenfort trading Dobbs weeks after acquiring him in a deal does keep the door open to Minshew being a trade candidate as well, but Brissett’s contract situation represents a key variable here. For the time being, it is keeping him off the field as the Cardinals learn LaFleur’s offense.
I’d also want to from a $4.5m do $35m+ as well. Cards being Cards; backwards on every front.