The Arizona Cardinals completed their Jacoby Brissett trade with the Baltimore Ravens on Friday.
Just one night earlier, the Ravens were blown out in a bad 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore is now 4-5 on the season, not much better than the 3-5 Cardinals at this point. But after the Brissett trade, there should be renewed optimism about keeping their season alive.
Cardinals had more leverage than the QB-needy Ravens
This offense should look drastically different under Brissett than it did with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who predictably struggled in his starting debut. Fagnano completed just 10-of-18 pass attempts for 60 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Some of that is a testament to what has been a really solid, and perhaps still underrated, Jaguars defense this season. But then again, the Ravens entered the season as contenders. Relying on an undrafted rookie in Week 9 isn't quite what they had in mind.
He's the second undrafted rookie to start in Ravens franchise history, along with Anthony Brown in 2022. That puts into perspective how desperate the Ravens were to find a quarterback leading up to the Nov. 10 trade deadline. It's also why the Cardinals likely could've gotten more out of this deal had they held out and used Baltimore's desperation as leverage.
Ultimately, it's still a win for everyone involved. The Cardinals move forward in their rebuild by continuing to add future draft picks. The Ravens have someone to keep their season afloat, giving them at least a chance to remain contenders if Jackson can return in time for the postseason.
Jackson had surgery on his right thumb and was placed on IR, meaning he'll miss at least four games, but it's likely more than that, given it's been deemed a "potentially season-ending injury." Brissett will be a huge upgrade over Fagnano, but they'll still need Jackson to return for any realistic chance at a deep playoff run.
Brissett should even be an upgrade over Brissett himself, going from the Cardinals to the Ravens. He's proven to be a quality replacement-level quarterback under ideal circumstances, which aligns far better with the situation in Baltimore.
Jacoby Brissett trade keeps Ravens' playoff hopes alive
They're stuck in a tough AFC North division, but I wouldn't be surprised if this relatively cheap trade for the Ravens pays off and at least keeps them in the hunt for a wild card spot. That's why the Cardinals and Ravens were logical trade partners leading up to this deal. The Ravens want to make a move at the deadline to keep their playoff hopes alive, and the Cardinals are facing the reality of what a 3-5 record means in the context of their stacked NFC West division.
With teams like the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers already buying with trades for guard Quenton Nelson and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, respectively, it makes sense for the Cardinals to continue to zig while the rest of the division zags. Hopefully they continue exploring trades for veterans like edge rusher Josh Sweat, but the fact that they were able to get something of value for Brissett even after his benching is a step in the right direction.
Again, the Cardinals likely could've gotten even more, as the Ravens' bad loss Thursday with Fagnano proved just how desperately they needed someone like Brissett. But with Brissett's demotion to QB3 aligning with the unfortunate injuries to both Jackson and Tyler "Snoop" Huntley, the teams at least came to an agreement.
This will ultimately be a win-win: the Cardinals move on from their Brissett mistake for good, and the Ravens hopefully never have to rely on an undrafted rookie at quarterback again. If Jackson can return in time for the postseason, don't count out this team despite their 4-5 start and key injuries. Brissett should look better in Baltimore, at least giving them a chance to keep those playoff hopes alive in the meantime.
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