Jacoby Brissett Reworks Contract Ahead of 2026 Season Amid Skepticism
Jacoby Brissett agreed to a restructured deal with the Arizona Cardinals after a holdout, but league evaluators remain doubtful of his starting role.
Jacoby Brissett agreed to a reworked contract with the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the 2026 season, reportedly adding $10 million to his salary, but league evaluators remain skeptical of his starting role despite participation in team practices.
Jacoby Brissett reworked his contract with the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the 2026 season. The deal replaces his previous agreement, which paid a $4.88 million base salary with $1.5 million guaranteed, and adds a reported $10 million raise. Brissett had remained away from the team during the offseason while negotiations unfolded, though he continued to attend practices. Skepticism about his abilities persists among NFL evaluators, who ranked him outside the top 32 quarterbacks in an anonymous poll. The Cardinals’ coaching staff and executives have expressed confidence in him, but his recent training‑camp performance — including two interceptions on Aug. 2 — highlighted the challenges of mastering a new offense. The agreement ends his holdout and secures his commitment as the team’s starter, making the contract terms a focal point as the Cardinals prepare for the upcoming season.
Contract Rework Ends Holdout and Guarantees $10 Million Raise
Jacoby Brissett and the Arizona Cardinals finalized a reworked contract ahead of the 2026 season, reportedly adding $10 million to his salary. The agreement resolved a holdout that had lingered through the offseason, during which he continued attending team practices. His previous deal included a $4.88 million base salary with $1.5 million guaranteed, figures confirmed in reporting. The new terms marked a shift, ending uncertainty and securing a significant raise. Brissett said he was ready to focus on football and learn the team’s new offense.
College career
Drafted by New England
Traded to Indianapolis
Holdout and ongoing negotiations
Reworked contract agreed
Rough camp practice
Did not play vs. Panthers
Skepticism Persists Despite Contract Resolution
The Arizona Cardinals secured Jacoby Brissett’s reworked contract ahead of the 2026 season, ending his offseason holdout and guaranteeing a reported $10 million raise. Yet league-wide skepticism lingers. An anonymous poll by The Athletic’s Mike Sando placed Brissett outside the top 32 quarterbacks, a finding cited in surveys of executives and coaches. Evaluators question whether his limited preseason exposure and inconsistent play can translate to sustained success. Brissett avoided the starting role in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game, and while Cardinals coaches express confidence, the broader NFL community remains unconvinced of his long‑term viability as a franchise quarterback. His readiness to adapt to a new offense remains unproven.
Training Camp Struggles Highlight Need for Adaptation
Brissett’s first training camp sessions with the Arizona Cardinals included a notably rough outing on August 2, when he threw two interceptions. That practice was later described as his worst of the camp to that point. Team coaches continued working with him to master a new offensive scheme, a process he acknowledged still required refinement after his contract was settled. His ability to adapt to the system remains under observation as the team evaluates his fit ahead of the 2026 season.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Jacoby Brissett's contract with the Arizona Cardinals?
Brissett agreed to a reworked contract ahead of the 2026 season after a holdout. The deal included a reported $10 million raise. His previous contract paid a $4.88 million base salary with $1.5 million guaranteed.
Why were some NFL evaluators skeptical of Brissett as the Cardinals' starting quarterback?
A league-wide survey of evaluators found many remained skeptical of Brissett as the Cardinals' starting quarterback, ranking him outside the top 32 quarterbacks in an anonymous poll.
Did Jacoby Brissett play in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game?
Brissett did not play at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers.
How did Brissett perform during training camp before the contract was resolved?
Brissett continued practicing with the Cardinals while negotiations continued. On Aug. 2, he threw two interceptions, a day described as his worst training camp practice to that point.
What teams did Jacoby Brissett play for before the Cardinals?
Brissett played college football at Florida and NC State, was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of 2016, and was traded to the Indianapolis Colts after his rookie season.
