The Arizona Cardinals are turning Jacoby Brissett into draft capital, and that alone makes this a clean win for them.
Brissett is reportedly headed to the Baltimore Ravens, with the deal expected to be completed this weekend. The return hasn’t been finalized yet, but Arizona is expected to land a low Day 3 pick - somewhere in the sixth or seventh round - for a quarterback who had already been pushed down to No. 3 on the depth chart.
For the Cardinals, that’s the kind of move that comes after the door has already been shut. Brissett was benched in Week 8 against Dallas, when Gardner Minshew entered in the third quarter and sparked four straight scoring drives in an upset over the Cowboys. From there, the path was obvious: a demotion first, then a trade.
That turn came after Brissett held out for a new contract and helped drag Arizona into a rough start in 2026, putting pressure on the team to make a change at quarterback.
“That’s not easy. It’s not a fun phone call," Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said of benching Brissett ahead of Week 9.
"There’s no book for that. There’s a human element to it.
I have a lot of respect for Jacoby, the person. I have a lot of respect for Jacoby, the player.
Like I told you guys yesterday, it was not all on him. This was collective and starting with me, but the position that those guys sign up for, we know the deal.
We needed a spark and obviously Gardner gave us one.”
Baltimore, meanwhile, is dealing with a quarterback room that has been hit hard almost all at once. Lamar Jackson is out with a thumb injury, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley is dealing with turf toe, and Brissett won’t arrive in time for Thursday Night Football against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Even so, the fit makes sense for both sides. The Ravens get a veteran passer with prior experience working with their quarterbacks coach, Israel Woolfork. The Cardinals get something back for a player they no longer needed, while also opening the runway for rookie Carson Beck to eventually see the field.
And Arizona may not be finished dealing yet. Josh Sweat and Budda Baker have also been mentioned in trade rumors, so this could be only one piece of a larger deadline shuffle.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Buzz Just Reignited A Dolphins QB Debate
Lamar Jacksons future has become a familiar talking point whenever the Ravens enter the conversation, and the latest round of speculation came from Fox Sports Nick Wright, who floated a scenario that would put the quarterback in Miami down the line. It is the kind of offseason-style debate that tends to follow a star of Jacksons caliber, especially with his Florida background adding an extra layer to any discussion about where he might eventually want to play.
For Baltimore, the noise is less about a specific move and more about the bigger questions that keep resurfacing around Jacksons long-term outlook. Recurring injuries and limited playoff success have kept his name in the rumor mill, even without any official trade chatter or team decision, and that is enough to keep a Dolphins debate alive whenever a national voice pushes the idea back into the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Skid Has Put New Pressure On Three Key Starters
A three-game losing streak has a way of sharpening the spotlight, and for Baltimore the pressure is landing on the players who usually help steady the operation when the offense and defense are both under strain. With Lamar Jackson dealing with an injury, the Ravens are heading into Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars needing more from a few familiar names, especially as the margin for error keeps shrinking.
Mark Andrews, Malaki Starks and John Simpson have each seen their recent play dip at a time when Baltimore can least afford it. Andrews has not been producing as much as a pass catcher, Starks has had some rough moments in deep safety coverage, and Simpsons issues in pass protection have added another concern to an offense already trying to find its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face A Calais Campbell Decision As Trade Buzz Builds
As the trade deadline approaches, Calais Campbell has become one of the more intriguing names to watch in Baltimore. The veteran defensive lineman is on a one-year contract, and with the Ravens navigating a difficult season, there is at least a plausible case for listening if interest materializes. Campbell still brings the kind of size, experience and interior presence that can matter to a team trying to steady itself late in the year.
One potential suitor makes the situation even more interesting because of the familiar coaching tie. A team led by John Harbaugh is expected to be in the market for help, and Campbells history in that system could make him a logical fit if the Ravens decide to move him. Baltimore would not be dealing from a position of leverage, which is why this is the kind of deadline subplot that can develop quickly once teams start looking for immediate defensive help. [Read more 🡒]