NFL teams pay big money for a player they hope never makes a meaningful play.
The Arizona Cardinals are paying backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett [$12.5 million over two years](https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/19045/jacoby-brissett) — and they would be happy if his hands get callouses from holding the proverbial clipboard every minute of every game.
Because that would mean Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray remains healthy, and he is presumably their best path to winning.
Given the violent nature of football — and the fragility of the human body — qualified backup quarterbacks are necessary for teams to try to maintain success, should the starter become injured. Toward the end of the 2022 season, Murray suffered a torn ACL and he missed eight games in 2023.
The Cardinals were 1-8 without Murray, as backups Joshua Dobbs and Clayton Tune were not the answer. Murray bounced back and played all 17 games in 2024 as the Cardinals went 8-9. Tune was the backup in 2024, throwing two passes in six games.
Arizona signed Brissett on March 14. His body of work suggests he would not go 1-8 if forced into a starting role. He is experienced, with some level of success. He would add a veteran, professional presence to the offense.
### Related Cardinals news:
Brissett was 19-34 as a starter over nine seasons with the Patriots, Colts, Dolphins, Browns, Commanders and Patriots again last season.
He has shown flashes of excellent play but has never been consistent enough for long enough to become an established starter. [His career numbers:](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrisJa00.htm) 87 games played, 53 touchdowns passes, 24 interceptions, 1,076-of-1,761 passes (61.1 percent), 11,400 yards.
One of the best?
----------------
It’s subjective, of course, but the Cardinals might have gotten the best backup on the market.
Brissett’s interception rate of 1.4 is the lowest in NFL history. He doesn’t recklessly throw the ball around the field — something teams expect from a backup quarterback.
He is 32, still young enough to have an impact if necessary. He started the first five games for the Patriots last season before New England replaced him with future franchise quarterback Drake Maye.
The Cardinals know what they're getting in Brissett. With the Browns in 2022, Brissett went 4-7 in 11 starts. His quarterback coach in Cleveland, Drew Petzing, is the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was on the Colts’ staff when Brissett played there. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort was the Patriots’ director of college scouting when New England drafted Brissett in the third round in 2016 (91st overall).
No one knows if Brissett will be needed to step in. If he is, the Cardinals can expect competent play from someone who has been around -- a been there, done that guy.