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The salary increase that quarterback Jacoby Brissett was seeking was finally offered to him by the Arizona Cardinals.
Unlike most holdouts, Brissett was not seeking another extension from his club, but rather a raise ahead of the 2026 NFL season where he sees himself as the starting quarterback. He was expected to earn $4.88 million as his base salary.
Now, Brissett is set to earn $15.5 million in base salary for 2026, according to multiple reports. The new 2026 contract could also reach $21 million with incentives.
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Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 28, 2025. (Getty Images)
This impasse between the journeyman quarterback and the Cardinals sparked a debate over whether it was even fair for Brissett to ask for a raise.
But after the release of Kyler Murray, who ultimately signed with the Minnesota Vikings, Brissett was poised to be a starter and he wanted to be paid accordingly. His new deal isn’t anywhere close to the highest starting money, however, Brissett seems happy to finally reach common ground.
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Brissett opted out of the Cardinals’ spring practices, although he reported to training camp on time. Due to this latest decision, it was expected that he and the Cardinals would reach an agreement soon.
This is yet another regime change for the Cardinals, with Mike LaFleur taking over the head coaching position left vacant following the firing of Jonathan Gannon. Brissett sits atop the depth chart after Murray was cut, while Arizona drafted Miami quarterback Carson Beck and signed Gardner Minshew II for training camp competition.
Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals attends mandatory minicamp at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe, Arizona on June 9, 2026. (Getty Images)
Brissett took over starting duties during the 2025 season after Murray suffered a foot injury. It didn’t take long for Brissett to operate the Cardinals’ offense more effectively than his injured teammate, with players like tight end Trey McBride and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. seeing an uptick in their own stats.
Brissett is set to become a free agent after this season, but perhaps he can remain in good favor with the Cardinals with another good year. The offense around him has also been strengthened, especially with Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love being drafted third overall in April.
Brissett practiced with his teammates to start training camp, including newcomers like Love, but he did not participate in 11-on-11 practices. That is expected to change now after the raise deal.
But the salary increase doesn’t necessarily mean Brissett is guaranteed the starting role in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. He’ll have to earn that spot against Minshew and Beck, although he has the rapport with the team’s top passing game options to think he’ll do just that.
Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals passes the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on January 4, 2026. (Getty Images)
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The Cardinals and Carolina Panthers were the first full teams to report to training camp, as the new season begins in earnest. The rest of the league will see its veterans arrive on July 28, making it the week where position battles take off in the NFL.
