Jacoby Brissett did his part in the Arizona Cardinals’ 36-30 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but the league is already looking ahead to the day third-round rookie Carson Beck gets his chance. If that happens, Arizona could find itself with an extra veteran quarterback to move before the trade deadline.
In ESPN’s Week 4 buzz column, Dan Graziano said Brissett “could struggle and prompt the Cardinals to want to see” Beck, which could lead to Brissett or Gardner Minshew II being dealt. Jeremy Fowler agreed that Brissett could be a valuable trade asset if Arizona wants a longer look at Beck later in the season. Fowler went as far as setting the over-under on quarterbacks traded before the deadline at 2.5, and Arizona’s depth chart is one of the clearest sources of supply.
Why Brissett’s trade value is real
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Brissett hasn’t given Arizona much reason to make a change yet. He completed 38 of 52 passes for 280 yards and two touchdown passes against San Francisco and added a rushing touchdown. Afterward, he aimed his frustration at the team’s 10 penalties, saying, “Against good teams, it’s like having a death wish.”
That kind of steady veteran is exactly who a contender calls after losing its starter. Fowler noted that six established starters have already gone down through three weeks, and the Giants gave up a fifth-round pick for J.J. McCarthy on Monday. Minshew, a backup with years of starting experience, offers a similar profile at a lower price. Contenders with a shaky QB2 would likely prefer either option to a rookie or a practice-squad call-up if their starter goes down in November.
Beck, meanwhile, flashed in August, going 15 of 19 for 188 yards and a touchdown in the Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers. The 65th overall pick spent six seasons in college at Georgia and Miami, so the Cardinals wouldn’t be throwing a raw prospect to the wolves. The question is timing. Arizona is 1-2 after opening with an upset of the Los Angeles Chargers, and it faces a remaining schedule that is tied for the toughest in the NFL. If the losses pile up before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, handing the rookie the job and cashing in on a veteran becomes much easier to justify.
