Cardinals and – Jacoby Brissett has stayed away from the Cardinals’ voluntary offseason program while negotiations over a reworked contract remain “significantly” far apart. With mandatory minicamp set for June 8-10 and a steep fine looming, the starting-job situation under n
Jacoby Brissett’s absence from the Cardinals’ voluntary offseason program has become its own signal: negotiations over his contract are not moving quickly, and the gap between player and team is wide.
ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reports that Brissett and Arizona are “significantly” far apart in negotiations. The quarterback has not attended any of the Cardinals’ voluntary offseason program as he waits for a reworked contract for this season.
The stakes are clear on the financial side. Brissett is entering the second year of a two-year deal he signed in March 2025. For 2026, he is scheduled to make $4.88 million, with a max value of $5.39 million—but only $1.5 million is guaranteed. By contrast, Gardner Minshew, who was signed as a free agent in March, has $5.14 million guaranteed for this season.
That contract mismatch is playing out alongside a bigger football question: where Brissett fits in the quarterback competition now that the Cardinals have a new head coach and a new offense. Weinfuss previously reported that the Cardinals told Brissett he was their starting quarterback earlier this offseason. Still. with Mike LaFleur now in charge and a different offensive setup on the way. it’s unclear how much Brissett’s absence will actually matter as the job is contested.
LaFleur, asked about Brissett’s missing time earlier this week, downplayed the impact. He said Brissett has “done probably everything we’ve ever done schematically.”
The next deadline is set and it comes with a price. Arizona will hold a mandatory minicamp on June 8-10, and Brissett would be fined $107,911 if he misses all three days.
Last season, Brissett started 12 games for the Cardinals. He completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 3,366 yards, throwing 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Still, the results in his starts were unforgiving: the Cardinals went 1-11.
All of it feeds into the same uneasy moment for Arizona—Brissett is both a proven option and a question mark. with the financial negotiations unresolved and the competition now shaped by a new staff. While LaFleur insists Brissett has kept up schematically. the calendar is tightening. the minicamp fine is real. and the “significantly” wide gap in talks makes the offseason feel more unstable by the day.
Jacoby Brissett Arizona Cardinals Mike LaFleur contract negotiations mandatory minicamp Gardner Minshew 2026 salary ESPN Josh Weinfuss
If they’re “significantly far apart” then he’s basically not even trying to come, right? Like why show up if the money ain’t there.
I don’t get why they’d fine him that much when he already started a ton of games last year. Also 1-11 is crazy… but everyone’s pretending the offense is totally new like that fixes everything.
Wait so Brissett is holding out for a contract, but LaFleur said he’s done “everything schematically” so why does it matter? Sounds like coach is lying or the article is confusing. Also $107,911 fine?? that seems like a random number ESPN picked.
This is what happens when they have Minshew guaranteed money and Brissett not guaranteed… like the Cardinals got their priorities messed up. Plus LaFleur saying he’s still the starter earlier this offseason?? now it’s a competition again. Idk man, mandatory minicamp fines are always a bad look even if he knows the playbook.