Do teams think Cardinals could make big Jacoby Brissett move amid contract saga, Carson Beck whispers?

The future of Arizona Cardinals journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett unexpectedly became an interesting topic after Brissett decided to stay away from the team for the start of the club's voluntary offseason program amid his desire for a pay raise.

Some have wondered if the Cardinals could make Brissett available to other teams and then start either veteran Gardner Minshew II or rookie Carson Beck for their Week 1 game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13. According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US, first-year Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is committed to keeping Brissett atop his depth chart for now. 

Cardinals have a Jacoby Brissett plan for the start of the 2026 season

"NFL front office executives from other clubs, including some who have been involved in quarterback transactions this offseason, believe Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur, despite a crowded quarterback room, wants to keep Brissett as his starter to open the season," La Canfora wrote for a piece published on Wednesday. 

There was never any real indication earlier this offseason that the Cardinals came close to signing a noteworthy quarterback such as Malik Willis or future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers before such signal-callers agreed to deals with their current employers. Meanwhile, ESPN's Josh Weinfuss shared on Monday evening that "a source told ESPN that Brissett has been informed by the Cardinals that he is their starting quarterback."

Additionally, teams that previously may have been interested in Brissett have since made other quarterback-related transactions. Some previously suggested the Cardinals should and would give Beck, a 2026 third-round draft pick, an opportunity to compete with Brissett and Minshew. Such takes were made before Beck impressed in springtime workouts, but it sounds like he'll be Brissett's primary backup or Arizona's QB3 come September. 

When could the Cardinals look to possibly trade Jacoby Brissett?

One general manager told La Canfora that Brissett could have some value as a tradable asset if an advertised playoff contender loses a quarterback to an injury during the upcoming season and the Cardinals have a losing record at that time. 

"But there isn’t much of a trade market for him now," La Canfora added about Brissett. 

Thus, it seems likely that the 33-year-old will eventually ink a restructured contract that gives him a bump in pay for at least the 2026 campaign.