The Cardinals may have badly undervalued Jacoby Brissett. With the trade deadline approaching and several teams looking for quarterback help, Arizona sent him to Baltimore for a return that looks surprisingly small. Brissett was one of the few available quarterbacks with starting experience, after all.
Ian Rapoport reported that the Ravens are sending Arizona a fourth-round pick in 2027 and a seventh-rounder in 2028 in exchange for Brissett and a fifth-round pick in 2027. Since Baltimore is likely to finish well ahead of the Cardinals, the deal amounts to a modest move up the draft board and an extra late-round pick. Arizona is also covering more than half of Brissett’s remaining salary.
This isn’t the sort of trade that reshapes the league, but it does raise questions about how the Cardinals value their players. Earlier this week, I gave Arizona credit for moving a quarterback it didn’t plan to use. Seeing the details, though, I’m less convinced. It feels less like getting something for an unwanted player and more like giving away a useful asset for very little.
The deal might look different if Lamar Jackson were certain to return this season and Baltimore were simply adding depth. But the Ravens’ performance on Thursday Night Football made clear how serious their quarterback situation is. Minnesota could also be looking for help, depending on how its Week 9 game against Buffalo goes. Philadelphia might be another outside candidate for a short-term option as it tries to stay in the NFC East race.
That leaves at least three contenders with potential quarterback needs, any of whom might have pushed the price higher. Arizona probably wasn’t going to land a huge haul, but it seems reasonable to think the team could have secured at least a fourth-round pick outright—especially while taking on most of Brissett’s remaining salary.
Credit to Baltimore: the Ravens appear to have gotten an excellent deal. For Arizona, this one looks rough.
