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The quarterback Jacoby Brissett wanted was finally offered to the Arizona Cardinals.
Unlike most delays/holdovers, Brissett did not seek a new extension with his club, but rather a promotion through the 2026 NFL season when he will be the starting quarterback. He was supposed to make $4.88 million as his base salary.
Now, Brissett is set to make $15.5 million in base salary in 2026, according to multiple reports. The new 2026 contract could be worth up to $21 million in bonuses.
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Jacoby Brissett No. 7 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Dec. 28, 2025. (Getty Images)
The situation between the quarterback and the Cardinals sparked a debate over whether it was fair for Brissett to ask for a raise.
But after the release of Kyler Murray, who ended up signing with the Minnesota Vikings, Brissett was in line to be the starter, and he wanted to be paid accordingly. His new deal doesn’t come close to the starting salary, however, and Brissett seems happy to have finally come to an agreement.
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Brissett chose not to participate in the Cardinals’ spring practice, although he reported to training camp on time. Because of the recent decision, he and the Cardinals were expected to reach an agreement soon.
It’s another change of regime for the Cardinals, with Mike LaFleur taking over the coaching position left vacant after the firing of Jonathan Gannon. Brissett sits atop the depth chart after Murray was cut, while Arizona drafted Miami quarterback Carson Beck and signed Gardner Minshew II competitively in training camp.
Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during mandatory minicamp at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe, Ariz., on June 9, 2026. (Getty Images)
Brissett took over the starting job for the 2025 season after Murray suffered a foot injury. It wasn’t long before Brissett was running the Cardinals’ offense more effectively than his injured counterpart, with players like Trey McBride and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. seeing an uptick in their stats lines.
Brissett is set for free agency after this season, but maybe he can stay in the Cardinals’ favor for another good year. The case against him has gotten stronger, especially since Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love was selected third overall back in April.
Brissett has been working with his teammates to start training camp, including newcomers like Love, but hasn’t been participating in 11-on-11 practice sessions. That should change now after the promotion deal.
But the pay raise doesn’t mean Brissett is guaranteed a starting role come Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. He’ll have to earn that spot over Minshew and Beck, though he has the requisite affinity with the team’s passing game options to figure to do just that.
Jacoby Brissett No. 7 of the Arizona Cardinals passes the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Jan. 4, 2026. (Getty Images)
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The Cardinals and Carolina Panthers were the first full teams to report to training camp, as the new season really begins. The rest of the league will have their veterans arrive on July 28, making this a week where position battles will cross the NFL.
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