The Cardinals’ 2026 season could end up taking a strange turn at quarterback, and it might involve Jacoby Brissett being moved before the year is over.
Arizona is expected to be in rebuilding mode, with a bad record not necessarily a disaster if it helps land a high pick in the loaded 2027 NFL Draft. But the organization could still get real value out of Brissett if he performs well early while the team keeps losing.
That’s the scenario ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler laid out. “If Brissett plays well but the Cardinals struggle to win, he could be a trade candidate at midseason,” Fowler writes. “That opens a path for Arizona to see what it has in Beck, who acquitted himself well in the preseason, before considering their 2027 draft options.”
If that plays out, Arizona could flip Brissett for draft capital and use the rest of the season to get a longer look at Carson Beck. That would give the Cardinals a better read on Beck before they make bigger decisions about their 2027 quarterback plans.
There’s also enough around Brissett to help him produce. Trey McBride gives the offense a dangerous tight end, while Jaremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier form the backfield, and Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson headline the receiver group.
Even with that support, the Cardinals could still have trouble turning solid quarterback play into wins. The defense is described as weak, and Brissett’s ceiling as an upside player appears limited, which could leave Arizona in the uncomfortable middle ground of competitive enough on offense, but not enough to climb the standings.
That’s where the trade idea starts to make sense. A playoff contender dealing with an injury at quarterback could view Brissett as a stopgap starter or a midseason replacement, and Arizona would get something back in return.
It would also fit the team’s bigger picture. If the Cardinals are already looking toward the 2027 draft for their long-term quarterback future, then moving Brissett during the season instead of waiting until the end could be a smart way to collect value while also opening the door for Beck.
Brissett could even be benched late in the year for that same look at Beck, so the argument is simple: why wait if Arizona can make the switch earlier and get compensation for Brissett in the process?
It would be a bold setup, but one that could work well for the Cardinals if they choose to go that route.
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