Reminding somewhat of the Seinfeld-universe’s Yankees payroll setup that featured George Costanza’s newly hired secretary out-earning him, the Cardinals have created the interesting situation during which their backup quarterback is tied to a notably larger guarantee than their projected starter. Like Costanza circa December 1994, Brissett has attempted to force the problem with management.
Brissett, who has been “made aware” the Cardinals view him as their starting quarterback, skipped Arizona voluntary workouts before showing as much as minicamp. He has been searching for an updated deal that reflects his starter status. Brissett’s two-year, $12.5MM contract calls for just $1.5MM guaranteed this yr. Meanwhile, backup Gardner Minshew is tied to a $5.14MM guarantee on his free agency accord.
The Cardinals and Brissett have been negotiating a reworked contract for months, in accordance with ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss, who adds a notable update to this example. Brissett isn’t necessarily searching for an extension; somewhat, the journeyman QB is gunning for an adjusted deal that essentially provides a raise.
In April, Brissett was mentioned as searching for a starter-level extension; as an alternative, it now appears he could be high quality leaving Arizona after 2026. Brissett is under contract for yet another season, and Weinfuss notes the above-referenced $1.5MM guarantee is the problem here.
As a vested veteran, the Eleventh-year passer would see his full base salary ($4.88MM) turn out to be guaranteed shortly before Week 1. This doesn’t offer him protection against a late-summer release, and because the Cardinals don’t appear like a team with contender aspirations, it isn’t out of the query they cut ties with Brissett and go together with Minshew and Carson Beck leading their QB room. With OverTheCap listing No. 66 overall pick Tyler Onyedim‘s guarantee at $1.83MM, Beck will soon be tied to — once the No. 65 pick signs his rookie deal — a guarantee higher than Brissett’s 2026 number.
That said, the Cardinals did guarantee Brissett $6.5MM when he signed with the team last yr. In fact, Arizona signed Brissett to be a backup to Kyler Murray. The latter’s foot injury, together with apparent organizational plans to maneuver on from the longtime starter’s onerous contract after 2025, led to Brissett making 12 starts. He now has 65 profession starts. While the Cards went 1-11 with Brissett on the helm last season, he did finish with a 23:8 TD-INT ratio and accomplished a career-high 64.9% of his passes.
Brissett spent last season playing under former Browns QBs coach Drew Petzing, but he has missed most of LaFleur’s workouts this offseason. Although the assumed starter made a minicamp cameo, the prolonged absence might have allowed Minshew to make an early case for the starting job. With Minshew signing to play for LaFleur and Brissett a holdover, the Cards have an interesting situation — as this looks to be a niche yr of sorts while the team eyes the 2027 draft class for a long-term solution.
As of late May, Brissett and the Cards were far apart in contract talks. It may well be argued the team doesn’t must roster each Minshew and Brissett, especially if Beck — viewed as perhaps the pro-readiest QB within the 2026 draft class — is to be given an extended look. The rebuilding team carries each now, but a trade much like the team’s Josh Dobbs move three years ago, wouldn’t exactly surprise. A tepid Brissett trade market is believed to exist, nonetheless.
Brissett has only been tied to an AAV north of $8MM in two seasons, when the Colts rewarded him shortly after Andrew Luck‘s shocking 2019 retirement. He played on one-year deals in Miami (2021), Cleveland (2022), Washington (2023) and Recent England (2024); those contracts ranged from $4.65MM to $8MM.
With the 2026 season perhaps Brissett’s last likelihood as a team’s preferred starter, it is smart the QB nomad would angle for higher terms — especially with Minshew tied to a guarantee greater than triple his. On the other hand, the Cardinals can simply argue they don’t need Brissett. Though, the team informing him he’s the expected starter months before the season was somewhat curious given Minshew’s experience (47 starts).
With a number of weeks remaining until training camp, the perimeters have more time here. Brissett can also be not the lowest-paid projected starting QB for 2026, with the Jets and Raiders’ Geno Smith trade dropping his Recent York salary to $3.3MM. Though, Smith continues to be tied to guarantees-turned-Vegas dead money from a two-year, $75MM extension signed in 2025. Brissett has never signed a contract near that value, and while it is much from certain the Cardinals will provide a giant raise, a rework stays in play — before the passer likely moves on by 2027 (at the most recent).