Free agency has rung in a new era of the Arizona Cardinals‘ quarterback room — and it’s not one anyone had anticipated. Not only did the Cardinals lose out to the Miami Dolphins in the Malik Willis sweepstakes at the advent of free agency, they brought in veteran backup Gardner Minshew on a one-year, $5.75 million deal worth up to $8 million.
Minshew will enter a battle with Jacoby Brissett (who is the incumbent starter as it stands), to usher in one of the least exhilarating quarterback competitions in recent memory.
With two career backups on the roster and no further additions, the Cardinals will enter 2026 without a starting-caliber passer. Perhaps they have their eyes on a developmental player in the 2026 draft, or perhaps they’re hoping to strike gold in the 2027 NFL draft.
That may be the ultimate best decision for this franchise’s future, but remains a very tough pivot to witness after owner Michael Bidwill was adamant he expected to win games in the 2026 season. Fans who have endured losing season after losing season have little reason to believe more wins are on the horizon.
Arizona Cardinals Lose Out on Malik Willis
The Cardinals were reportedly interested in Willis. Though unproven, the former Packers backup was the gem of an otherwise-thin free agent class. Willis signed on a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Miami, including $45 million in guarantees.
It’s certainly a hefty number for Willis, who has thrown just 155 career passes. He threw for 422 yards on 30-for-25 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions in four games (one start) for Green Bay. The talent was undoubtedly on display in a very small sample size, but it would have been a significant risk for Arizona.
It’s not so much about the fact that the Cardinals won’t have Willis suiting up for them this season. Rather, it’s the inability or unwillingness to commit to a risky deal that is a difficult look. If Willis was not Arizona’s top priority, the decision to pass on such a price tag is both reasonable and justifiable.
It’s possible that the Cardinals — or, more importantly, head coach Mike LaFleur — were not high enough on Willis to commit to that amount over that many years. But to balk at an average annual value of $22.5 million is extremely unrealistic thinking, if Willis was truly their top QB target.
There were many who felt Willis would not have been a safe investment for the Cardinals at this stage, and those voices may very well be proven right. Only time will tell. But where there was risk in signing Willis, so too there is risk that comes with passing on the 26-year-old for financial reasons — risk of becoming a decision that haunts this organization in the years to come.
Cardinals Pivot to Gardner Minshew
The Cardinals will be Minshew’s sixth stop in his NFL journey. The Washington State product was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, and has spent time with the Eagles, Colts, Raiders and Chiefs along the way. He owns a career passer rating of 88, a starting record of 17-30 and 68 passing touchdowns to 35 interceptions.
Minshew was, at one time, one of the more exciting quarterbacks in the NFL. His personality and highlight-reel plays masked an overall below-average production level. In terms of eye-candy, there’s plenty from the 29-year-old.
But he reportedly wasn’t even Arizona’s backup option. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Cardinals pivoted to Minshew after talks stalled with Rams backup Jimmy Garoppolo — who has familiarity and rapport with LaFleur.
There’s no sugarcoating it. Minshew was clearly not the plan from the outset this offseason. Whether or not GM Monti Ossenfort was sold on Willis, the Cardinals’ quarterback situation is now a baffling concoction of career backups with a combined record of 37-75.
Cardinals’ Future QB Plans REmain Unresolved
There is no long-term solution present at this stage. It remains to be seen if the looming draft will yield a future option to Arizona. Perhaps Alabama’s Ty Simpson, or a late-round flyer on an arm like Drew Allar or Garrett Nussmeier will turn into a future gem.
But Monday’s decisions certainly make it unlikely the Cardinals’ future franchise quarterback will be taking the field in the the 2026 season. There is plenty of time for free agency to unfold still, but Arizona appears poised to have another difficult product to sell in the coming season.
Fans who have already endured the most brutal of losing streaks will need an incentive to spend their money at State Farm Stadium. Going into the year without a starting-caliber quarterback will not provide that incentive.
Of course, winning games is always the cure. If LaFleur is capable of winning in a QB-purgatory season, that might say enough about both he and his staff to inspire hope for the future of this franchise. Perhaps Brissett or Minshew enter a late-career renaissance — it’s all still on the table.
But right now, it looks like the Cardinals have their eye more centered on 2027, despite Bidwill’s comments after the firing of Jonathan Gannon. The problem is, Arizona has been through this ugly process before with the very same GM who roster-constructed the team to a 15-37 record over the past three seasons. Asking fans to endure another agonizing season with more lofty, lottery-ticket hopes at a turnaround in the distant future requires more trust than this organization has earned.
