Desert Standoff: Jacoby Brissett’s Holdout Opens the Door for Carson Beck

Veteran Jacoby Brissett remains a no-show at voluntary OTAs this week as he pushes for a pay raise on his current contract. This stalemate has forced the Cardinals to lean on Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck, giving the coaching staff an unexpected look at the younger quarterbacks while the presumed starter watches from home.

Now the main question you maybe wondering is why is a player who has been a career journeyman so far in his career asking for a new contract . In the 2025 NFL regular season Brissett made his first start for the cardinals and they wouldn't look back as he started the reset of the 2025 season with him throwing for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions and you may look at the stats and say hey he's not a bad quarterback at all until you look at his record. In the 12 games he started he finished the 2025 season with a 1-11 record with his only win being against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football on November 3rd 2025. Now his 1-11 record is not solely on his play as cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was mediocre on offense as the Cardinals finishing 20th in total offense in 2025, however multiple times during last season the offense stagnated in critical moments or pick it up to late in the game when it was out of reach. Brissett is mainly asking for starter level money and a contract that has better financial stability which in my opinion he has been an solid back up but I don't believe he deserves the starter level money he is demanding.

Brissett November 30th 2025 vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers image from sports illustrated

Brissett's contract demands now have put the cardinals in an awkward position at quarterback now having to go with Gardner Minshew and potentially 3rd round rookie out of Miami Carson Beck. Which could led Arizona to getting potentially the first overall pick in loaded 2027 draft class that includes some big name quarterbacks such as Arch Manning, Trinidad Chambliss, and Dante Moore and as the offseason continues as we enter June the Cardinals have a very important Financial decision to make that make or break there choice at quarterback for the future.