The Arizona Cardinals are entering another pivotal offseason, and the quarterback room is at the center of it all. With Mike LaFleur stepping in as the team’s new head coach, the franchise is weighing its options - and that includes what to do with veteran QB Jacoby Brissett.
According to reports, Kyler Murray staying in Arizona remains a real possibility. LaFleur knows Murray's game well and could see him as a fit for the offensive system he wants to install. Nothing is set in stone just yet - LaFleur is still assembling his staff - but keeping Murray might be the smoothest path forward for a team that’s already had its fair share of turbulence.
If Murray stays, that puts Brissett in an interesting spot. He’s under contract for a manageable $4.88 million base salary, and he’s a known quantity around the league.
That matters. He’s built relationships with coaches who now find themselves in quarterback-needy situations - namely, Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta and Frank Reich with the New York Jets.
Brissett’s 2025 season with the Cardinals didn’t light up the win column - Arizona managed just one victory in his 12 starts - but the veteran QB still turned in a solid individual campaign. He threw for over 3,300 yards, logged 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions, and brought a steady hand to a team in transition. Those numbers, combined with his poise and experience, make him a valuable bridge option for teams not ready to hand the reins to a rookie or unproven player.
Let’s look at the potential landing spots.
In New York, the Jets are still trying to find answers at quarterback. If they don’t use one of their two first-round picks on a QB, they’ll need someone more reliable than Justin Fields.
That’s where Brissett comes in. He has history with new offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who coached him in Indianapolis.
Brissett made 15 starts for Reich’s Colts, and that familiarity could be key as the Jets try to stabilize their offense.
Then there’s Atlanta. Stefanski, now leading the Falcons, worked with Brissett during the 2022 season in Cleveland.
With Kirk Cousins likely on his way out and Michael Penix Jr. still recovering from an ACL injury, the Falcons could use a veteran to hold down the position. Brissett isn’t a long-term answer, but he’s the kind of quarterback who can keep the offense on schedule and give the team a chance to compete while they figure out the future.
No one’s pretending Brissett is a franchise-changing player. But in a league where quarterback play is everything, having a dependable veteran who knows how to manage a game and lead a locker room has real value. Whether it’s the Jets, Falcons, or another team that steps up, Brissett’s name is one to watch as we move deeper into the offseason.
And of course, the biggest domino is still Kyler Murray. If Arizona decides to move on from its former No. 1 overall pick, that would shake up the entire quarterback market. But if Murray stays, Brissett becomes one of the more intriguing trade chips available - a proven vet with ties to coaches in need, and a contract that won’t break the bank.
The Cardinals have decisions to make. And as always in the NFL, it all starts under center.