When the Arizona Cardinals released Kyler Murray, the expectation was that Jacoby Brissett would take over as the team's starting quarterback. While that certainly could still be the case, an ongoing contract holdout has added another layer of complexity to Arizona's quarterback room.
Given that he's on track to be the starter, Brissett wants to be compensated as such. But are we sure that's in the Cardinals' best interest?
Jacoby Brissett is a stopgap that the Cardinals don't need
There's no denying that bringing Brissett back into the mix would give Arizona the best chance to win (a few games) this season. He was serviceable in Murray's absence last season, coming off arguably the best season of his career with 3,366 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions over a 14-game stretch. That, paired with Arizona's other lack of reliable options at the most important position in football, makes it a no-brainer decision to maximize wins in the short term.
Still, Arizona's front office has to prioritize the future when evaluating this decision. The Cardinals are coming off a 3-14 season and are stuck in the best division in the NFL, with the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers all reaching 12-plus wins last year. The difference between Brissett or, say, rookie Carson Beck is marginal when we're talking about a team with no realistic playoff aspirations.
But what is significant is their chance to draft their true long-term answer at the position next year. DraftKings Sportsbook has the Cardinals' win total projection set at 3.5, suggesting they should be right in the mix for the top draft selection. There should be several intriguing quarterbacks at the top of the 2027 NFL Draft, headlined by Arch Manning (Texas) and Dante Moore (Oregon).
Arizona should already be looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft
Bringing Brissett back would hurt their chances of landing a potential franchise-altering prospect. We'd be stuck in a similar predicament next summer wondering where the Cardinals are going to find their signal-caller to raise them to contention.
From that standpoint, it makes sense to take one step backward next season to set them up for a promising future. An offense with Manning/Moore, Jeremiyah Love, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Trey McBride would not only be electric but also potentially the best in the entire association.
Who knows, maybe they already found a hidden gem in Beck and don't need to address the position. But the Cardinals would face a win-win scenario with him at the helm -- either they win enough to feel comfortable with him going forward, or are in a position to add a coveted prospect in 2027. They don't have that outcome with Brissett, risking the dreaded NFL purgatory.
Arizona needs to consider taking more losses in the short term to set themselves up to compete in the loaded NFL West, which means moving on from Brissett as their stopgap.
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