With or without former franchise quarterback Kyler Murray, the Arizona Cardinals’ signal-caller situation continues to be a main talking point.
The 2026 NFL Draft only added to the noise.
After the Cardinals opted against naming a starting quarterback a week out from the draft, and Jacoby Brissett’s reported ask for a raise and absence from voluntary offseason work, Arizona turned around and selected Miami quarterback Carson Beck with the No. 65 overall pick in the third round.
And that’s before mentioning Arizona’s free-agent addition of Gardner Minshew this offseason.
General manager Monti Ossenfort said the Beck and Brissett situations are independent of one another, but maybe there’s more to the plot.
Is a message being sent the veteran’s way?
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Naming Brissett as the QB1 placeholder would have made a lot of sense for Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur. Squash the storyline for the time being before actually getting on the grass while showing confidence in Brissett — even if that means giving up some negotiating leverage in a potential extension.
As for Brissett’s contract situation, he’s very much within the right to ask for more money.
While Minshew was originally brought in to back up Brissett, the free-agent signing ($2.89 million) currently makes more guaranteed money than Brissett ($1.5 million).
Getting a deal done seems very doable, too. Making more money guaranteed this season — Brissett has a $9.2 million cap hit — and tacking on another year would not break the bank for a franchise currently holding the seventh-most effective cap space (which includes Arizona’s 2026 draft class) at $29.31 million and may be all that’s needed.
The wiggle room is there if the Cardinals want to get something done.
But will they?
Brissett serves as the best option in the room currently, though he wasn’t handpicked by first-year coach Mike LaFleur. That connection with former offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is no longer in the desert.
LaFleur has since said Brissett “looks the part” for how he views NFL quarterbacks, but the unwillingness to name him the starter makes you wonder if there’s another plan in the works.
Much like Brissett, Minshew has plenty of NFL experience behind 47 starts in 63 games played. He also has prior ties with LaFleur from their time together at the 2019 Senior Bowl. It’s clear LaFleur walked away impressed by Minshew.
Not getting a deal done with Brissett wouldn’t be the end of the world by any means, especially after the Beck addition. In all reality, Beck could very be the starter midway through the season if Arizona’s 2026 lives up to what many are expecting. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Cardinals’ projected win total sits at 4.5. That’s tied for the worst mark with the Miami Dolphins.
Why pay someone to be the starter if he won’t be by midseason (or even sooner)?
On the flip side, what kind of impact would moving off Brissett in a trade or release have on the locker room?
He may not have stacked the wins last year (1-11) but clearly earned the respect from those around him. He also got the best out of wide receiver Michael Wilson (78 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns) and tight end Trey McBride (126 catches for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns).
Arizona’s losses weren’t all on him, either. The offensive line was inconsistent at best despite strong showings the two years prior. The run game was just about nonexistent, while the Cardinals defense was getting gashed left and right.
“He’s a veteran, he knows his (expletive), he stands in the pocket, he takes a hit, he plays for the boys,” center Hjalte Froholdt said April 7.
“That’s something that you got to tip your hat for him. He’s not just another backup. I think Jacoby has proven that he’s a really good quarterback and he can get the job done. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do this year.”
Things could get very interesting at the most important position in Arizona.
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