Jacoby Brissett has finally gotten the raise his role called for.
The Arizona Cardinals and the 33-year-old quarterback agreed to a new one-year deal worth $15.5 million, setting him up as the projected Week 1 starter for new head coach Mike LaFleur. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the contract could climb as high as $21 million.
Brissett had been set to play out a much cheaper deal, with a base salary of $4.88 million for 2026 that could have reached $5.39 million. That number sat well below what the Cardinals’ expected backup quarterback, Gardner Minshew, made last season as the No. 2 to Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The contract talks had kept Brissett away from offseason practice, but he did take part in Thursday’s workout, a sign the sides were moving toward a resolution.
His new deal comes after he stepped in for Kyler Murray last season when Murray, now with the Minnesota Vikings, went down with an injury. Brissett put up solid numbers in the role, throwing for 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The results around him never followed, though, as Arizona went 1-11 in his starts and finished last in the NFC West at 3-14.
For Brissett, it’s another stop in a long journeyman career that has already included time with the Patriots, Colts, Dolphins, Browns and Commanders.
Safety Budda Baker had already pushed the issue publicly earlier this month, posting: 'Just want bro to get his s*** done... he is not asking for what you think. Bro is asking for below the bare minimum. Let's just get it done!!!'
Baker backed that up on Thursday.
'I definitely think Jacoby did a great job coming in last year,' he added. 'I know we didn't get the wins that we wanted to get, but I think he commanded the offense at a high level.'
In Other News...
Carson Beck Is Already Testing Cardinals Fans' Patience
Carson Beck arrived in Cardinals training camp with the usual rookie quarterback buzz, but the early returns have been more about patience than promise. Taken in the third round, Beck is still very much in the development stage, and his background suggests as much: he was never asked to carry an offense in college, spending much of his time as more of a steady game manager than a true difference-maker.
That matters in Arizona because the Cardinals are not just evaluating Beck as a long-term project, but as the next man up behind Jacoby Brissett. If the rookie continues to look like someone who needs more time, it could shape how much confidence the team has in turning to him when the depth chart is tested, which is exactly the kind of early camp question that can linger well beyond August. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Risky Next Payday Decision After Brissett Deal
Jacoby Brissetts arrival in Arizona gives the Cardinals another veteran piece to sort through as they map out the next phase of their roster spending. His deal includes $15.5 million in guarantees, a number that matters not just for Brissett himself but for a front office trying to balance immediate stability with the longer-term business of keeping core players in place.
Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals are also weighing extension talks for several other players, with timing and price shaped by performance, injury status and market value. Left tackle D.J. Johnson and wide receiver Zay Flowers are among the names in the mix, and the choices ahead will say plenty about how aggressively Arizona wants to commit now versus waiting for the market to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have One Huge Backfield Question Heading Into 2026
The NFC West is shaping up as one of the leagues most intriguing divisions heading into 2026, and the Cardinals have their own young defender drawing attention in that conversation. Walter Nolen is being viewed as Arizonas best breakout bet, which fits the way the team has tried to build around ascending talent on defense while keeping an eye on the future.
Nolens rookie stretch hinted at why hes in that spot, with disruptive production in limited action and enough flashes to suggest more could be coming once his role expands. For Arizona, the appeal is bigger than just a promising season line, because the Cardinals need him to keep growing into the kind of presence that can anchor the front for years to come. [Read more 🡒]