One of the more unexpected NFL-related stories of the spring has involved quarterback Jacoby Brissett staying away from the Arizona Cardinals throughout voluntary workouts amid his desire for a pay raise.
It sounds like Brissett will not forfeit any money by not reporting for work when he is contractually obligated to do so.
Jacoby Brissett has financial reasons to report for mandatory minicamp
According to Josh Weinfuss and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Brissett will report for Arizona’s mandatory minicamp, which is scheduled to run from Monday through Wednesday. Per Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, the Cardinals could fine Brissett $107,911 if he experiences a change of heart and skips the mandatory sessions.
Brissett is set to enter the summer atop Arizona’s depth chart after the club happily parted ways with Kyler Murray earlier in the offseason. Free-agency signing Gardner Minshew II and rookie Carson Beck are also in the Cardinals’ quarterback room, and Minshew seemingly wants a chance to compete for the starting gig.
However, signs continue to point to Brissett ultimately getting the nod for Arizona’s Week 1 game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13.
Why Jacoby Brissett is displeased with his current contract
“His deal currently pays him $4.88M, with the potential to grow to $5.39M, of which only $1.5M is guaranteed,” Weinfuss and Fowler added about Brissett. “By comparison, Gardner Minshew II, whom Arizona signed as a free agent in March, had $5.14M guaranteed by the team for 2026. A deal is unlikely to get done in the next day, a source told ESPN, so Brissett will be reporting without a new deal in place. In May, a source told ESPN that both sides were ‘significantly’ far apart. Brissett will report as the Cardinals’ presumed starter after being told earlier this offseason that he would fill that role.”
On paper, Brissett doesn’t have many desirable options in front of him other than returning to the Cardinals. Unless a team loses a QB1 to an injury, Arizona is likely the only club that would be willing to give him an opportunity to start in September.
That said, Brissett could always threaten to “hold in” and not fully participate when training camp practices get underway in late July unless he receives a deal to his liking. Assuming he does report for mandatory minicamp, one would think he will address his contract situation while speaking with media members this week.
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