GLENDALE – Quarterback conversations usually focus on the starter, but one of the most important debates happening around the Arizona Cardinals right now involves the players standing directly behind him. During a recent discussion, Pat McAfee and his crew examined Arizona’s quarterback situation and touched on several intriguing possibilities.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) prepares to play the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on Dec 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Pat McAfee breaks down Cardinals QB situation:
The Arizona Cardinals and Jacoby Brissett remain far apart in negotiations to rework the last year of his contract..
Is Gardner Minshew or Carson Beck gonna be their starting quarterback this season #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/doPFHrIXU9
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 28, 2026
They noted that veteran Jacoby Brissett appears to be seeking compensation more in line with a starting quarterback than a traditional backup. They also discussed young prospect Carson Beck and veteran Gardner Minshew, who has previously shown he can keep an offense competitive when called upon.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws passes during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
On the surface, it sounds like an ordinary roster conversation. In reality, it speaks to a much larger NFL trend. The value of competent backup quarterbacks has gone up in recent seasons as injuries have become an unavoidable reality, and teams with playoff aspirations can see their seasons collapse overnight if they lack stability behind their starter. The difference between winning eight games and making the postseason often comes down to who takes snaps when adversity strikes.
May 8, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) during rookie minicamp at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Brissett offers leadership, experience, and credibility in a locker room. Minshew brings proven production and a style that can energize an offense. Beck represents the developmental option, offering long-term upside if the organization believes he can eventually grow into something more. Each choice sends a different message about where the Cardinals believe they are as a franchise. That is why the Cardinals’ quarterback discussion remains worth watching. Not because there is a clear answer today, but because in the NFL, one injury can make every backup plan suddenly become the most important plan.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
