The Baltimore Ravens quickly addressed their quarterback issues by acquiring Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals, who had started the season with him as their starter.
Brissett’s performance with the Cardinals was inconsistent. In eight starts, he threw for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Three of those interceptions came in a single Week 4 loss to the Giants. The trade details have not been fully disclosed. Reports indicate the deal may not be finalized until after the Ravens’ Thursday night game.
Ravens Address QB Need
Brissett is not a perfect quarterback, but he represents a solid fit for Baltimore’s current needs. The team requires someone who protects the football and can stretch the field, which helps open running lanes for Derrick Henry. Brissett excels at one of those tasks.
The Cardinals’ offensive struggles were partly due to a lack of deep threats. They had strong tight ends in Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, but no reliable receiver who could stretch the defense. In Baltimore, Brissett will work with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, both of whom are effective on deeper routes and averaged over 15 yards per reception with the team’s previous quarterbacks. Zay Flowers is a very good pass catcher who can operate as the Ravens’ No. 1 target, and Rashod Bateman is also a guy who works best on deeper routes.
Crucially, the Ravens secured a low-cost solution to a major problem. Other teams seeking a quarterback face a difficult market. They would have to pry Kirk Cousins from the Raiders or accept a significant drop-off to the next tier of players, such as Joe Flacco or Tyson Bagent. The Ravens didn’t find a perfect solution, but might have gotten the best guy they possibly could have right now, without mortgaging their future.
Cardinals Look to the Future
The Cardinals made a move that shows self-awareness. Brissett was on a one-year deal, so Arizona received some value in return while clearing the way for their future plans.
The team is not expecting Gardner Minshew to be the long-term starter. The plan is to give Minshew a few games before evaluating rookie Carson Beck. This is the correct approach for a team expected to draft in the top 10 and face a quarterback decision in 2027. Keeping Brissett would have been a sunk cost, as he had no role in their future. The trade allows him to help a playoff contender while Arizona continues its rebuild, which is already ahead of schedule as the Cardinals are more competitive than most gave them credit for this season.