Jacoby Brissett can sleep a little better now that he’s solved his contract situation, joking that he was “pretty sure I’ll probably sleep more than three hours tonight” in his first comments to reporters after agreeing to a reworked one-year deal with the Cardinals.
Brissett is expected to be the Cardinals’ starting quarterback this upcoming season and had been unhappy with his previous deal that included a mere $1.9 million of guaranteed money for the 2026 season.
The new deal is worth $15.5 million, according to ESPN.
His contract could reach $21 million with incentives.
But Brissett felt tense as he tried to work toward an agreement with Arizona, telling reporters that it “got dark a couple of times” before finally reaching a deal.
The QB hadn’t participated in the Cardinals’ 11-on-11 work since camp started, but he finally was out there Sunday.
“It’s your livelihood, it’s business and it’s part of this game,” the 33-year-old said Sunday. “You want to be out there with the guys and that causes another stressor. I’m glad it’s over with.”
Ultimately, Brissett explained, wanting the raise was about “having respect for yourself.”
Brissett will work with the starters beginning Tuesday, though he will still need to win the job — going up against Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck.
It’s likely his to lose, but Brissett was far from ready to assume he’d be the starter once the season began.
“I think I’ve got to go out there and prove it,” Brissett said. “I don’t think it’s a given just because a deal gets done.”
