Cardinals training camp opened with Jacoby Brissett running the show, and that alone tells you how far this offense has traveled in a year. Arizona moved on from Kyler Murray, whiffed on Malik Willis as a stopgap, and landed on Brissett, a 6th career stop for a guy who's basically become the league's designated bridge quarterback, as the guy under center for 2026. Only problem: his contract still looks like a backup's deal, and everybody in the building knows it.
First-year head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed Brissett was on the practice field even with his contract still unresolved.
That's the tension defining Brissett's camp right now. He's in the final year of a contract that guarantees him just $1.5 million, with a $4.88 million salary and a $9.19 million cap number that reads like a veteran backup's paycheck, not a starter's. Brissett, notably, negotiates his own deals without an agent, and by all accounts both sides agree he's earned a raise after being handed the keys to the offense. What they haven't agreed on yet is the number.
Enter Adam Schefter, who confirmed Wednesday that talks between Brissett and the Cardinals are 'productive,' even if nothing's signed. It's the kind of update that means everything and nothing at once, progress is being made, but the season opener is only 8 weeks out and there's still no resolution.
Adam Schefter relayed that Brissett is practicing through camp while negotiations for a new deal remain ongoing but 'productive.'
Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett is practicing while there are “productive” talks for a new deal. Story via @joshweinfuss: https://t.co/otukI4nSlG
The backdrop here matters. Brissett's spent his career as the guy teams trust to hold the fort, he's started for the Colts, Browns, Dolphins, Patriots and now the Cardinals, usually stepping in when the original plan fell apart. Arizona's plan fell apart when Murray's future in the desert went sideways, and now Brissett isn't just keeping a seat warm, he's the guy LaFleur is building a first-year system around. That's a different kind of value than what his current deal reflects.
None of this is dragging down his effort at camp, which is the notable part. Plenty of players in a contract year would find a reason to load-manage practice reps or make a stink publicly. Brissett's doing the opposite, taking every snap he can while the business side plays out behind the scenes. Whether that patience gets rewarded with a real raise before Week 1, or Arizona just lets it ride into the season, is the thing worth watching next.