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Does Gardner Minshew Really Have A Shot At QB1?

There's a chance.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws passes in front of quarterback Carson Beck (19) during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws passes in front of quarterback Carson Beck (19) during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Arizona Cardinals chose to move on from Kyler Murray in an effort to start something new. After all, they were coming off a dismal three-win season anyway. With Murray exiting and the team choosing to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon, it seemed as if a massive overhaul was taking place.

After playing someone, alright, down the stretch, it seemed nearly guaranteed for Jacoby Brissett to take over the starting quarterback role in 2026. However, it seemed as if general manager Monti Ossenfort didn’t want anyone to know his next move, as he blew fans away by bringing another journeyman quarterback into the mix.

The Cardinals signed Gardner Minshew to a one-year, $5 million contract, giving Brissett a little bit of competition for training camp. But to be completely honest with you, the signing of Minshew wasn’t even the most shocking quarterback transaction made by Ossenfort and the front office.

In the third round of the NFL Draft, the Cardinals made the bold decision of selecting Carson Beck out of the University of Miami with pick No. 65.

So the question remains…what are Minshew’s odds of landing the starting spot come week one?

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In all honesty, we don’t see a scenario where Gardner Minshew is the team’s Week 1 starter, as the passing offense really began to take flight under Brissett down the stretch.

Pass catchers such as Trey McBride and Michael Wilson saw career years with Brissett at the helm, and it would be wise to stick with the hot hand going forward.

So, to be straight up, it’s Brissett’s job to lose.

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