After the Cardinals officially released veteran quarterback Kyler Murray this past week, it was anyone’s guess what the team was going to do at the position.
With Jacoby Brissett as an option in-house, as well as a quarterback market that featured Malik Willis, Aaron Rodgers, and Daniel Jones, there were so many options on the table for general manager Monti Ossenfort.
Rumors began to make waves around the league that the Cardinals could be in on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who is projected to go late in the first round, but the most recent signing by the front office makes it unlikely that it would come to fruition.
MORE: Cardinals Make Splash By Adding Running Back Who Sat Behind One Of The League’s Best
MORE: The Wide Receiver Depth In Arizona Looks Much Better After Recent Signing
The Cardinals agreed to a one-year, $8.25 million contract with journeyman quarterback Gardner Minshew, adding him to a QB room that already features Jacoby Brissett, who has had a very similar career to Minshew.
Minshew, 29, was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 and has spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs in his career.
Minshew is coming off a torn ACL, which he suffered against the Tennessee Titans while filling in for Patrick Mahomes, whose season also ended at the hands of a torn ACL.
It seems as if Monti Ossenfort and new head coach Mike LaFleur are bracing for a training camp battle between Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew if he is good to go.
The Cardinals were originally going to make an effort to sign Malik Willis, but he opted to follow his defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, to the Miami Dolphins on a three-year, $67.5 million contract.
As it stands, the Cardinals have a new quarterback, running back, and wide receiver after day one of free agency.