The Baltimore Ravens moved quickly to address their quarterback troubles, acquiring Jacoby Brissett, who opened the season as the Arizona Cardinals’ starter.
Brissett had a respectable start before his play, like Arizona’s, began to fade. Across eight starts, he threw for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The numbers look a bit rougher than his overall play might suggest: three of those interceptions came in a disastrous Week 4 matchup against the Giants.
The terms of the trade haven’t been announced. Reports say the deal won’t be completed until the weekend, even though Baltimore plays Thursday night. So for now, it’s hard to assess the trade itself; the more useful question is what the move means for each team. We can revisit the deal once the details are known.
Brissett may be the best fit Baltimore could find
Brissett isn’t a flawless quarterback, but the fit makes sense. The Ravens need someone who can protect the ball and threaten defenses downfield, opening up space for Derrick Henry. Brissett is particularly capable of the latter.
He made his share of mistakes in Arizona, though the Cardinals had few reliable targets beyond tight end Trey McBride and receiver Michael Wilson. Both are most effective on intermediate routes. McBride is an excellent pass-catching tight end, but Arizona lacked an outside receiver who could consistently stretch the field, and that proved difficult to overcome.
In Baltimore, the receiving group offers a different kind of support. Zay Flowers can serve as the leading target, while Rashod Bateman is more comfortable working deeper routes. Both averaged more than 15 yards per reception with Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley at quarterback, and they could continue to make plays downfield with Brissett.
Just as important, Baltimore appears to have found an affordable answer to a major problem in a thin quarterback market. Other teams looking for help may have to persuade Las Vegas to part with Kirk Cousins, which could be difficult with the Raiders at 4-4. Otherwise, they may need to look to a less appealing group that could include Joe Flacco, Tyson Bagent and Tua Tagovailoa.
The Ravens haven’t landed a perfect solution. Still, Brissett may be the best option available to them right now, without requiring them to sacrifice their future.
Arizona is making a sensible choice about what comes next
I have a soft spot for teams that seem honest about where they are, and this move looks sensible for Arizona, whatever the return turns out to be. Brissett was on a one-year contract, so the Cardinals can get something for a player who wasn’t part of their longer-term plans while giving themselves room to evaluate other options.
Gardner Minshew is unlikely to remain Arizona’s starter for the rest of the season. The team appears ready to give him a few games, then assess Carson Beck when he’s ready to return and has had time to get back up to speed. For a team expected to pick in the top 10 and facing a quarterback decision in the 2027 draft, that seems like the sensible path.
Keeping Brissett would have offered little benefit if he wasn’t in the team’s plans beyond this season. Now he gets a chance to help a team pursuing a playoff run, while the Cardinals continue their rebuild. Arizona has been more competitive than many expected this year, but it still has reason to focus on what comes next.
