Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett is reportedly refusing to attend the beginning of offseason training amid a standoff with the team.
The 33-year-old is entering the final year of the $12.5 million, two-year deal he signed in 2025. He is due to make a base salary of $4.88 million in 2026, but only $1.5 million of that compensation is guaranteed.
The incumbent signal caller is now looking for a contract extension with the Cardinals that offers him greater security and shores up the starting role.
The Cardinals are said to be willing to address Brissett’s contract but the player has been absent from the beginning of the offseason program as negotiations rumble on, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
The first phase of offseason training is voluntary so Brissett will not be fined for his absence.
Brissett started 12 games for the Cardinals last season in place of an injured Kyler Murray, who played only five games because of an injury to his right foot that was initially believed to only need a few weeks for recovery.
Jacoby Brissett is reportedly refusing to attend the first phase of offseason training
The 33-year-old quarterback is reportedly looking to agree a contract extension with Arizona
Murray was released by Arizona in March after the franchise reportedly failed to find a trade for him and informed him of the decision to part ways earlier in the offseason.
Even after Murray’s exit, Brissett was not told that he would be the starter in 2026, according to ESPN.
The Cardinals’ other option at quarterback is Gardner Minshew, who signed with Arizona in March. The former Kansas City Chiefs backup is scheduled to have $5.14 million of his contract guaranteed this season.
Both Brissett and Minshew have starting experience in the NFL, but both are widely seen across the league as stopgap solutions who are better suited as quality backups.
In many drafts, the Cardinals’ No. 3 pick in next week’s NFL Draft would represent an opportunity to add a franchise quarterback. That’s not necessarily the case.
The Raiders are expected to take Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 selection and after he’s gone, there’s no consensus that a true first-round prospect at QB exists. Alabama’s Ty Simpson could be the next best option. If the Cardinals want to target him, they could trade down from the No. 3 pick, add another pick, and possibly still select Simpson.
