The Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Jacoby Brissett agreed to a reworked contract on Sunday, July 26, 2026. The restructured deal guarantees Brissett $15.5 million for the upcoming season with a maximum value of $21 million through incentives, resolving a contract dispute ahead of the team’s training camp in Glendale.
The agreement brings an end to months of contract friction that saw the veteran quarterback skip voluntary offseason activities and hold in during mandatory minicamp. Brissett entered the second year of a two-year contract originally signed in March 2025 that carried a base salary of $4.88 million, with only $1.5 million guaranteed.
Reflecting on the resolution after Sunday’s practice, Brissett admitted the standoff took a toll. My mind’s racing. My heart’s racing still, too,
he told reporters, according to reporting from NFL.com. Glad it’s over with and now it’s onward.
Contract Terms and Financial Impact on Arizona’s Cap
The reworked agreement increases Brissett’s guaranteed compensation to $15.5 million for the 2026 season according to details confirmed by ESPN. Incentives built into the new terms can push the total value of the package to $21 million as reported by NBC Sports. Crucially, the deal contains no additional years, keeping Brissett on schedule to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason noted by ESPN’s coverage.
Despite the pay bump, Brissett remains one of the more affordably compensated veteran starters in the league. Under his initial contract, his cap hit sat at $9.2 million broncoswire.usatoday.com, leaving him significantly below the figures carried by veteran peers like Daniel Jones. Even with the adjusted figures finalized, analysis from USA Today indicates that Brissett’s cap hit will likely remain the lowest among veteran starters across the NFL.
The financial adjustment cuts into Arizona’s future flexibility as detailed in team financial projections. While the franchise is currently projected to hold a league-high $119.1 million in effective cap space for 2027, any added cap obligations from Brissett’s new terms will draw down that reserve—though those figures will shift further if the team finalizes long-term extensions with Paris Johnson Jr. and Michael Wilson.
Head Coach Mike LaFleur Cements Depth Chart Plans
With the financial impasse settled, first-year head coach Mike LaFleur moved quickly to integrate his veteran signal-caller back into full team activities. LaFleur confirmed that Brissett is the intended starter for the Cardinals’ regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13, 2026.
“The plan is to get this offense as good as we can be and peaking at the right time for him to be the starter on September 13, yes.”
Mike LaFleur, Head Coach, Arizona Cardinals via USA Today
Brissett spent the 2025 campaign making 12 starts after taking over for the injured Kyler Murray—whom the Cardinals released in March reported by Yahoo Sports. During those 14 appearances last season, Brissett posted career highs with 3,366 passing yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 64.9 percent of his passes highlighted by Bleacher Report, though the team struggled to a 1-11 record in games he started.
Locker Room Support and Training Camp Outlook
Brissett’s return to the practice field brought immediate praise from teammates. Tight end Trey McBride expressed public approval of the new contract.
Behind Brissett on the depth chart, veteran Gardner Minshew and rookie third-round draft pick Carson Beck round out the quarterback room.
The Cardinals open their preseason slate on August 6, 2026, facing the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio winnipegfreepress.com, giving Brissett and his reworked offense their first test ahead of the September kickoff.
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