Arizona Cardinals' made big offseason mistake to cause current problems
· Yahoo Sports
The Arizona Cardinals' offseason has been dominated for the last month by the story that quarterback Jacoby Brissett wants a new contract and that he was holding out of the voluntary part of the offseason program to get a new deal. After going 1-11 in 12 starts, despite a career high in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and the career seasons by receiver Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride, this holdout is an embarrassing look for all involved.
And it is all because the Cardinals made one big mistake.
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The mistake?
They told Brissett that he was going to be their QB1 without a competition.
Why is Jacoby Brissett holding out? Does it make sense?
Brissett enters the final year of his two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals. He signed the deal expecting to be the backup quarterback to Kyler Murray. When Murray got hurt, Brissett took over and he started 12 games.
Murray was released in the offseason, leaving Brissett atop the depth chart, putting him in an unexpected role — the starter.
He will make $4.9 million in salary in 2026 with $1.5 million of it guaranteed. Starting quarterbacks not on a rookie contract will all make at least 19.5 million in compensation.
If he is going to be the starter, he should be paid starter money.
The Gardner Minshew addition
The Cardinals signed Minshew to a one-year contract worth almost $5.7 million, which is more than Brissett will make this year.
This had to add to Brissett's issue.
What the Cardinals did wrong
While it has not been stated publicly, it was reported after Minshew's signing that he was signed to back up Brissett, and at some point in the offseason, Brissett was told he would be the starter.
That established Brissett feeling he should be paid more.
That is where the Cardinals messed up.
With Murray gone and a veteran signed in Minshew, combined with a new coaching staff and offense, the easiest thing to do with the quarterback position would have been to enter the spring with no established starter. Murray was the starter. He wasn't there anymore, so Brissett and Minshew would battle for the starting job.
With that, there would be no reason to hold out. There would be no assumption of role.
But of course, the Cardinals botched this. Now they look like a foolish franchise with a career backup holding out while other teams like the LA Rams are acquiring a Defensive Player of the Year.
There was no need to say anyone was the starter. Mike LaFleur is in his first year as head coach. Minshew has 47 career starts. And while Brissett had good passing numbers, the team went 1-11 in his starts and lost the final nine games after he was named the starter.
Competition is always what makes teams better. By not creating the competition, the Cardinals are left looking like a joke.
They already are expected to be bad in 2026. Now they look like a bad team that doesn't know what it is doing.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals' made big offseason mistake to cause current problems