Arizona Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett: The 2026 Offseason Profile

The machinery of the NFL offseason is beginning to hum. With the 2026 league year set to commence on March 11, and the critical legal tampering window opening on March 9, the Arizona Cardinals front office is deep in evaluation mode. Every contract, every performance, every future dollar is under the microscope. In this series, we dissect each player on the roster, examining their 2025 campaign, contractual standing, and path forward. Today, the spotlight turns to a player who embodies stability in the NFL’s most volatile position: veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett arrived in the desert in the 2025 offseason, signing a two-year deal with a clear, singular purpose: to be the definitive, high-floor backup to franchise star Kyler Murray. His profile wasn’t that of a developmental prospect, but of a professional insurance policy. As the Cardinals navigate a pivotal offseason with aspirations of leaping from playoff hopeful to legitimate contender, the decision surrounding Brissett is one of philosophy as much as finance.

The 2025 Season in Review: A Masterclass in Preparedness

Statistically, Jacoby Brissett’s 2025 log is unassuming, and that’s precisely what the Cardinals hoped for. His primary job was to hold a clipboard, and in that, he was perfect. However, the value of a player like Brissett is measured beyond the box score. He started only one game—a Week 15 contest against the Seattle Seahawks when Murray was a late scratch with an illness.

In that start, Brissett delivered a textbook performance of veteran stewardship. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown, and, crucially, zero turnovers. He managed the game efficiently, operated the offense within its structure, and made enough plays to keep the Cardinals competitive in a narrow loss. It was a performance that validated the entire reason for his signing. Throughout the season, Brissett’s impact in the quarterback room was consistently praised by coaches and Murray alike. His experience in multiple systems provided a sounding board for the starter, and his professional demeanor set a daily standard.

• Key 2025 Stat Line: 1 start, 64 of 92 passing (69.6%), 698 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT across relief appearances.
• Role Fulfillment: Excelled as the designated backup, providing immediate stability when called upon.
• Intangible Value: Served as a trusted veteran resource for Kyler Murray and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

Contract Status & The Cardinals’ Financial Calculus

Brissett is entering the final year of the two-year, $8 million contract he signed in March 2025. His deal for the 2026 season includes a non-guaranteed base salary of $4.5 million and a modest $500,000 roster bonus due early in the league year. There is no remaining signing bonus proration, meaning the Cardinals would incur zero dead money if they were to release him.

This structure gives General Manager Monti Ossenfort complete flexibility. The $5 million total cap hit for a backup quarterback is not exorbitant, but it is also not insignificant for a team that needs to allocate resources to elevate the overall roster. The Cardinals must ask: Is the premium for proven, ready-now security worth more than investing that $5 million into, say, an additional rotational pass-rusher or depth in the secondary? With the quarterback market for veterans always in flux, the Cardinals could also explore a contract restructure to lower the 2026 cap number, though Brissett would have little incentive to agree without added security.

The 2026 Outlook: Competing Philosophies

The decision on Brissett’s future is a fascinating microcosm of where the Cardinals see themselves. Two distinct paths emerge, each with compelling arguments.

Path 1: Retain the Proven Commodity. If the Cardinals’ goal is to maximize their window with a healthy Kyler Murray, then minimizing risk at the game’s most important position is paramount. Brissett is a known entity who can win a game or two in a pinch and whose presence allows the offensive system to run without drastic simplification. For a team aiming for a deep playoff run, the value of a reliable backup skyrockets. Keeping Brissett signals a “win-now” mentality where every game is precious.

Path 2: Pursue Cost-Effective Youth. The alternative is to view the backup quarterback spot as an area for fiscal efficiency. The Cardinals could release Brissett, save the $5 million, and target a younger, cheaper quarterback in the draft’s middle rounds or a less expensive veteran on the market. This route would free up capital for other needs but introduces uncertainty. It banks on Kyler Murray’s durability and bets that a less experienced backup could navigate a potential stretch of games without derailing the season.

Expert Analysis & Prediction for the Offseason

The NFL’s trend increasingly favors the “high-end backup” model, as evidenced by the market for players like Brissett, Taylor Heinicke, and others. For the Cardinals, the calculation isn’t just about 2026 salary cap dollars; it’s about opportunity cost. What is the cost of losing a game—or worse, a season—because the backup was unprepared?

Given the Cardinals’ trajectory and their substantial investment in Murray, the smart money is on prioritizing stability. However, the business side cannot be ignored. My prediction is a nuanced outcome: The Cardinals will not simply cut Jacoby Brissett. Instead, they will likely approach his agent about a slight adjustment to his current deal—perhaps converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus and adding a void year to spread the cap hit, creating a couple million in immediate space while keeping him on the roster.

This serves both parties: Brissett gets financial security and remains in a comfortable role, while the Cardinals retain their premium insurance at a slightly reduced 2026 charge. The only scenario where Brissett is released is if a surprise opportunity arises in free agency or trade that demands every last dollar of cap space, a possibility that seems unlikely given Ossenfort’s methodical team-building approach.

Conclusion: The Value of Certainty

In the high-stakes poker game of NFL roster construction, Jacoby Brissett is not a flashy chip. He is a solid, reliable stack that helps you stay in the hand. His 2025 season proved his worth not through highlight reels, but through unwavering professionalism and competency. As the Arizona Cardinals chart their course toward the 2026 league year, the decision on Brissett is less about his abilities and more about how the franchise values peace of mind.

In a league where a single injury can pivot a season, the cost of a proven backup is often revealed only in his absence. For a Cardinals team on the cusp, the safest—and likely most prudent—bet is to ensure Jacoby Brissett remains on the sideline, helmet ready, embodying the quiet confidence that allows a team to chase greatness without looking over its shoulder.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.