Cardinals, Jacoby Brissett are still reportedly 'significantly far apart' in contract talks

The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly not making much progress with starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett when it comes to reworking his contract for the 2026 season.

According to a report from ESPN's Josh Weinfuss on Friday evening, the two sides are still "significantly far apart." 

As a result, Brissett has stayed away from all of the team's offseason activities, and there remains some doubt as to whether or not he will show up for next week's OTAs or the June minicamp. 

Jacoby Brissett wants new deal for 2026 season

Brissett's quest for a new contract is at least understandable when you look at the totality of the situation.

He is in the final year of a two-year contract that will pay him $4.88 million, with the potential for it to go as high as $5.39 million.

Only $1.5 million of the deal is guaranteed.

That is about as close to the bottom end of the quarterback pay scale as a veteran quarterback can get, and it is actually less guaranteed money than what the Cardinals are paying offseason addition Gardner Minshew ($5.14 million guaranteed for the 2026 season).

That is important to keep in mind because the Cardinals have already committed to Brissett as their starting quarterback for this season. 

If he is going to start, it makes sense that he would want more money than the guy who will be going into the season backing him up.

Brissett appeared in 14 games for the Cardinals in 2025, taking over the starting role after Kyler Murray was sidelined. He ended up having a career year, throwing for 3,336 yards, 23 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. He also completed 64.9% of his passes. Not All-Pro or Super Bowl level by any means, but more than solid for a veteran stop-gap starter. Now he just wants to be paid like it.