Reports indicate that Jacoby Brissett, who served as the Arizona Cardinals’ starting quarterback for the last dozen games of the 2025 season, is now seeking compensation reflective of a primary starter.
On Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network disclosed that Brissett is absent from the initial stage of the club’s offseason activities and is pursuing a contract extension commensurate with a starting role.
Currently, Brissett is among three quarterbacks listed on the Cardinals’ active roster, alongside veteran Gardner Minshew II and ex-practice squad individual Kedon Slovis.
However, the Cardinals, possessing the third and thirty-fourth selections in the upcoming NFL Draft, are viewed as a possible destination for Ty Simpson, the former Alabama signal-caller.
Reacting to Rapoport’s Friday dispatch, Daniel Jeremiah, an NFL Network draft expert, posted on X, stating, “Ty Simpson to AZ feels inevitable.”
Rapoport stated that Brissett, at 33 years old, desires financial stability, pointing out his scheduled 2026 earnings of $9.06 million include merely $1.5 million in guaranteed funds.
Furthermore, Rapoport’s reporting indicated that the Arizona franchise “appears willing to address” the circumstances.
Nevertheless, it should be highlighted that on Thursday, Monti Ossenfort, the Cardinals’ general manager, refrained from naming Brissett as the team’s undisputed starting quarterback.
According to ESPN, Ossenfort commented, “We’re not really naming anybody and we’ll see how that room looks by the time we get [to] August.”
In response to an inquiry about his comfort level with Brissett and Minshew, the fourth-year general manager of the Cardinals offered this remark, as documented by Theo Mackie of azcentral:
“That’s where we are right now. Is that how it looks going into training camp? I don’t know, we’ll see.”
This offseason, Ossenfort and the Cardinals’ front office parted ways with previous franchise quarterback Kyler Murray. Arizona cut the 28-year-old dual-threat QB when attempts to trade him were unsuccessful. The substantial guaranteed money still tied to Murray’s sizable 2022 extension complicated efforts to locate a trade associate.
Next season, the Cardinals are slated to cover the majority of Murray’s $36.8 million guaranteed compensation, whereas his new organization, the Minnesota Vikings, is expected to compensate him at the veteran minimum rate.
Brissett, a player who has been with half a dozen NFL franchises, notably starting fifteen contests for the Indianapolis Colts during the 2017 and 2019 campaigns, began last season as Murray’s backup before assuming the primary role. Murray suffered a foot ailment in Week 5, ultimately placing him on the injured reserve list.
Despite Brissett posting impressive statistics within a Drew Petzing offensive scheme that unusually prioritized throwing the ball—attributable to injuries and a collapsing defense that yielded numerous points—the Cardinals achieved a 1-11 record during Brissett’s starts, concluding the season at 3-14. Subsequently, Jonathan Gannon was discharged from his head-coaching position, with Arizona appointing Mike LaFleur as his successor.
LaFleur arrived from Los Angeles, having directed Sean McVay’s Rams offensive unit for the prior three seasons. There is a possibility that this rookie head coach could be paired with a rookie quarterback. This might be Simpson, who belongs to a comparatively shallow quarterback draft pool, fronted by the anticipated top overall selection, Fernando Mendoza.
Presently, however, the Cardinals maintain three quarterbacks on their squad, and the player with the most veteran experience among them is reportedly discontent with his existing agreement.
