Cardinals' Jacoby Brissett makes business decision amid Ty Simpson rumors

An Arizona Cardinals team that currently has journeymen quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew as its top two options continues to be linked with Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

While a previous report indicated that Brissett was on track to enter springtime workouts as Arizona's QB1, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur insisted on Thursday that they aren't naming a starter at this time. On Friday, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shared an interesting update on the Cardinals' quarterback situation. 

Jacoby Brissett wants to be paid like a QB1?

"Brissett is not attending Phase 1 of the offseason program and is asking for an extension that pays him as the starter," Rapoport explained. "Brissett, set to make $9.06M in ‘26, has only $1.5M in guaranteed money and wants security."

Rapoport added that Arizona "appears willing to address" Brissett's request. 

Brissett, who turned 33 years old in December 2025, went 1-11 while serving as the Cardinals' starter this past season when Kyler Murray was sidelined with a lingering foot issue. According to ESPN stats, Brissett ended the 2025 regular season ranked 24th in the NFL among qualified players with a 41.2 adjusted QBR. That said, Pro Football Reference shows that Brissett was eighth in the NFL among qualified quarterbacks with an average of 240.4 passing yards per game. 

Bump in pay may not promise Jacoby Brissett anything other than more money

History shows that the Cardinals and Brissett will likely come to terms on an agreement that gives him a bump in pay via what will still be a team-friendly deal. Thus, Arizona almost certainly won't have any financial reason to enter September with Brissett cemented atop the depth chart if a rookie performs like a revelation during preseason games. 

The previously mentioned Simpson could be that rookie, as numerous analysts believe the Cardinals will make a trade to grab the polarizing prospect late in the draft's first round on the night of April 23. Some feel that Friday's developments show that Simpson will soon be calling Arizona home.