NFL executives address proposed idea for Cardinals' handling of Jacoby Brissett, Carson Beck

It was recently suggested that the Arizona Cardinals could send journeyman Jacoby Brissett to a quarterback-needy team ahead of this fall's trade deadline so that Arizona could then hand the keys of the offense over to 2026 third-round draft pick Carson Beck.

For an article published on Thursday, Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with team executives about a Cardinals team that may not have a long-term QB1 on its roster this spring. 

Could Carson Beck follow in the footsteps of Tyler Shough?

"They are trying to give themselves hope and take a swing," one executive said about the Cardinals drafting Beck. "Beck looks the part. He can make the throws. He is just going to short-circuit at the worst time. I’d sit him half the year like New Orleans did with [Tyler Shough] and then play him the rest of the way."

A 2025 second-round pick, Shough made a total of nine starts this past season en route to becoming an Offensive Rookie of the Year Award finalist. Meanwhile, Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk noted on Wednesday that Brissett has not yet signed an adjusted contract amid his desire for more financial security.

"The lack of any further word on that front would likely be a sign that the team thinks someone else could wind up under center to kick off the 2026 season," Alper added. 

That someone else could be Gardner Minshew, who signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in March. However, one executive thinks Arizona should at least consider naming Beck its Week 1 QB1 before Labor Day arrives. 

Should Cardinals want Carson Beck to sink or swim this season? 

"If you play Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew the whole year, you have wasted the pick on Beck," that executive explained. "The Beck pick makes sense if he is your starter. It’s like, 'We know we suck, we roll the dice and maybe we hit on a QB,' because if you can pick in the top 10 next year and not need a QB, you are in good shape."

Numerous analysts believe the 2027 draft class will be loaded with top-tier quarterback prospects. Starting Beck right away may not be fair as it pertains to his development, but doing so could help those running the Cardinals determine whether or not the club should draft a different signal-caller next spring.