GLENDALE – When a team’s best players invest their own time to build chemistry with a quarterback away from the facility, they’re sending a message that statistics alone can’t measure. Jeremy Fowler’s report that Cardinals stars Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride trained with Jacoby Brissett in South Florida carries weight because it happened while Brissett remains in a contract dispute with Arizona. Rather than waiting for negotiations to play out, the Cardinals’ two offensive cornerstones chose to continue developing timing with the veteran quarterback.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Several of Arizona Cardinals’ skill players visited quarterback Jacoby Brissett in South Florida to train for a few days, including Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride.
Brissett is in a contract dispute with Arizona and missed OTAs as a result. pic.twitter.com/Gwkv5LLNhU
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 9, 2026
This matters so much because Harrison and McBride represent the franchise’s future. McBride recently committed long-term to Arizona with a contract extension, while Harrison arrived as the fourth overall pick expected to become one of the NFL’s premier receivers. Those are the players the organization is building around.
Arizona quarterback 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
Arizona has created competition by signing Gardner Minshew and drafting Carson Beck, leaving legitimate questions about who will be the QB of the future. But actions often reveal more than depth charts. Harrison and McBride could have spent the offseason working independently. Instead, they invested in developing chemistry with Brissett. For quarterbacks and receivers, repetition creates trust. Timing on option routes, anticipation before a receiver makes his break, and communication under pressure cannot be replicated overnight in training camp. Every extra throwing session shortens that learning curve.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona tight end McBride (85) runs after the catch against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
For Cards fans, this isn’t proof that Brissett has officially won the job. The players expected to carry Arizona’s offense believe he’s the quarterback most worth building chemistry with today. In a league where leadership is earned more than announced, that kind of endorsement may ultimately matter as much as any contract negotiation.
Jul 24, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona wide receiver Harrison Jr. (18) during training camp at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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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
