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The Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Jacoby Brissett are in the middle of a contract dispute in the offseason. He is due to earn $4.9 milion in salary in 2026 with $1.5 million of it guaranteed. He can earn another $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses.
However, he is expected to be the Cardinals' starting quarterback, and his salary is nowhere near starting quarterback salaries.
Aaron Rodgers just signed a $22 million contract to play for 2026. Malik Willis' contract with the Miami Dolphins averaged $22.5 million. Geno Smith, now with the New York Jets, will make $19.5 million between what the LAs Vegas Raiders owe and his salary with the Jets. Kirk Cousins gets $20 million this year.
Those are the lowest-paid veteran quarterbacks who are expected to start (Cousins will be supplanted by No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza at some point).
Only quarterbacks on rookie contracts, which are cost-controlled, are making less than that.
So what should the Cardinals do with Brissett?
I have the solution.
Since statistically, he was good but not productive in wins, let's base the salary on $22 million for the season like Rodgers, who had a similar statistical season as Rodgers.
Now, there is the reality that he might not start the whole season. If the season goes as badly as last year, the Cardinals will have to move on to either Gardner Minshew, who has 47 career starts, or rookie Carson Beck.
So the base salary can be based on starting half the season — $11 million. Get rid of the per-game roster bonuses or make the base salary $10.5 million with the $510,000 possible in per-game roster bonuses. Make the salary fully guaranteed.
After that, put $11 million in incentives based on games started, wins and touchdown passes. Make them reasonable goals. Make it $1 million per start after 8, or give bonuses in stages. That would be $9 million for starts and another $2 million based on wins/stats.
If Brissett is good enough and successful enough to start the whole season, he still gets paid like an NFL starter. If he is a part-time guy, he still ends up doubling what he would have earned based on his current contract.
Brissett gets paid. The Cardinals look like an organization willing to take care of a player and trying to succeed.
Would this be the deal to get it done?
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Jacoby Brissett contract: A proposal that works for QB, Arizona Cardinals
Continue reading...
However, he is expected to be the Cardinals' starting quarterback, and his salary is nowhere near starting quarterback salaries.
Aaron Rodgers just signed a $22 million contract to play for 2026. Malik Willis' contract with the Miami Dolphins averaged $22.5 million. Geno Smith, now with the New York Jets, will make $19.5 million between what the LAs Vegas Raiders owe and his salary with the Jets. Kirk Cousins gets $20 million this year.
Those are the lowest-paid veteran quarterbacks who are expected to start (Cousins will be supplanted by No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza at some point).
Only quarterbacks on rookie contracts, which are cost-controlled, are making less than that.
So what should the Cardinals do with Brissett?
I have the solution.
Proposed Jacoby Brissett contract
Since statistically, he was good but not productive in wins, let's base the salary on $22 million for the season like Rodgers, who had a similar statistical season as Rodgers.
Now, there is the reality that he might not start the whole season. If the season goes as badly as last year, the Cardinals will have to move on to either Gardner Minshew, who has 47 career starts, or rookie Carson Beck.
So the base salary can be based on starting half the season — $11 million. Get rid of the per-game roster bonuses or make the base salary $10.5 million with the $510,000 possible in per-game roster bonuses. Make the salary fully guaranteed.
After that, put $11 million in incentives based on games started, wins and touchdown passes. Make them reasonable goals. Make it $1 million per start after 8, or give bonuses in stages. That would be $9 million for starts and another $2 million based on wins/stats.
If Brissett is good enough and successful enough to start the whole season, he still gets paid like an NFL starter. If he is a part-time guy, he still ends up doubling what he would have earned based on his current contract.
Brissett gets paid. The Cardinals look like an organization willing to take care of a player and trying to succeed.
Would this be the deal to get it done?
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Jacoby Brissett contract: A proposal that works for QB, Arizona Cardinals
Continue reading...
