\u2014 Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) March 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n While a lot can change between now and Week 1 of the regular season \u2014 we haven\u2019t even gotten to Phase 1 of Arizona\u2019s offseason program nor the 2026 NFL Draft \u2014 LaFleur\u2019s comments on Brissett are another indicator the quarterback at the very least is the leader in the clubhouse for the starting role.<\/p>\n Throw in Arizona Sports\u2019 John Gambadoro\u2019s reporting new addition Gardner Minshew was brought in as a backup option to Brissett, it would be more surprising if the incumbent Cardinal isn\u2019t at the helm once the season gets underway.<\/p>\n One of the new photos up at the Cardinals practice facility. pic.twitter.com\/JpnwwFUtUS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) March 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Seeing Kirk Cousins, who Arizona reportedly<\/a> had interest in this offseason, head to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, only adds to it. Sure, Jimmy Garoppolo is still lurking around for a new deal, but it sounds like that is a nonstarter for the Cardinals after those talks fell through<\/a> earlier this offseason.<\/p>\n Look, Brissett is not Arizona\u2019s long-term answer at the position. He is not its next franchise signal caller. The Cardinals would be fooling themselves if they truly believed that. Brissett could also very well be on another roster this time next offseason given his current contract.<\/p>\n But for the time being, he represents Arizona\u2019s best option in 2026.<\/p>\n The wins were at a premium with Brissett under center for 12 starts last year. Despite seeing more than twice the amount of games as former Cardinals starter Kyler Murray (five), Brissett posted a 1-11 mark, compared to Murray\u2019s 2-3 record.<\/p>\n Even with a one-dimensional offense, Brissett added another layer to the passing game with his ability to hang in the pocket, get through his progressions and operate under center and out of play action at a higher clip.<\/p>\n Opening up more of that side of the offense, Brissett finished tied for 14th in touchdowns (23), seventh in yards per game (240.4) and 14th in total yards (3,366). He did so despite being sacked the fifth-most times (43) and working with the second-worst run game in the league at 93.1 yards per game and just nine touchdowns.<\/p>\n The biggest positive out of Brissett\u2019s 12-game sample size, though, was what he got out of his pass catchers.<\/p>\n Michael Wilson went from seemingly a non factor across the first five games of the season \u2014 eight catches for 52 yards and a touchdown \u2014 to exploding as Arizona\u2019s WR1 the rest of the way. <\/p>\n Of his 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 catches, Wilson saw 954 yards, six scores and 70 receptions with Brissett running the show.<\/p>\n Tight end Trey McBride, meanwhile, planted his flag as one of the premier tight ends in the league, if not the top of the mountain.<\/p>\n Nearly doubling his career touchdown total with 11 in 2026, McBride added 1,239 yards on 126 catches. Much like Wilson, it wasn\u2019t until after Brissett took over that his output reached career heights.<\/p>\n Those connections should only grow through the offseason and into 2026 play.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the plan for Cardinals QB Gardner Minshew?<\/p>\n Brissett wasn\u2019t the only Cardinals signal caller to get a lot of love from LaFleur on Monday.<\/p>\n Minshew may be viewed as the backup, but LaFleur is eager to get to work with a signal caller he got to know real well from their time together at the 2019 Senior Bowl.<\/p>\n \u201cThe day we signed him, he wanted all the information already, which is really no different than when I had him at the Senior Bowl,\u201d LaFleur said. <\/p>\n \u201cI remember FaceTiming with him for like four hours, like three days before we were first going to Mobile, because he wanted to learn the offense to just kind of be ahead of the curve and that\u2019s just who he is. That\u2019s just how he\u2019s wired. That\u2019s why he\u2019s had success in this league and why he\u2019s putting in so many years.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, seeing Minshew get the starting nod in Week 1 seems unlikely given Brissett\u2019s 2025 resume and his already established connections with Arizona\u2019s primary pass catchers.<\/p>\n What about adding through the NFL Draft?<\/p>\n The Cardinals\u2019 quarterbacks room looks just about filled out with Brissett, Minshew and Kedon Slovis.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean Arizona can\u2019t look to the draft and potentially get a head start on their franchise quarterback search.<\/p>\n Alabama\u2019s Ty Simpson<\/a> has gotten a lot of love recently and is expected to be the second quarterback off the board after Indiana\u2019s Fernando Mendoza.<\/p>\n Miami\u2019s Carson Beck, who along with Simpson have scheduled top 30 visits<\/a> with Arizona, Penn State\u2019s Drew Allar and LSU\u2019s Garrett Nussmeier make up other options the Cardinals could look into.<\/p>\n But even if Arizona went the rookie route a year early in attempt to get another swing at the franchise QB plate, seeing any of those prospects mentioned taking the reins in Week 1 seems more unlikely than Minshew.<\/p>\n
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