March 10, 2026, 6:24 p.m. MT
The Arizona Cardinals are signing former Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Gardner Minshew to a one-year contract. He was not their first choice.
Their first choice was quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Cardinals were in talks with Garoppolo on Monday. They hit a snag, which led to them turning their attention to Minshew.
What was the snag? It had to be one of three things — money, length of contract or role.
Garoppolo was the backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams last season, playing on a one-year, $3 million contract.
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Minshew got a one-year deal worth $5.75 million and up to $8.25 million. Initial reports are that Minshew is expected to back up Jacoby Brissett, who started the Cardinals’ final 12 games last season.
According to Mike Jurecki, Garoppolo wasn’t interested in being a backup quarterback, which is odd considering he has been for the last couple of years. Perhaps he had no intention being a backup behind Brissett in Arizona.
Garoppolo has ties to new Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur. LaFleur and Garoppolo were together in Los Angeles the last two seasons and in San Francisco.
Garoppolo has not agreed to a new contract with any team. He officially becomes a free agent on Wednesday.
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