Jacoby Brissett is in an unusual spot with the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed that Brissett will now be the third-string quarterback behind starter Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck. That change raises a fair question: Could the Cardinals trade the veteran quarterback before the deadline?

Brissett has started 73 games in the NFL, including eight for Arizona this season with a 3-5 record. He has completed 63.3% of his passes for 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, good for a 79.7 passer rating. Those numbers are not necessarily bad, but they are not what the Cardinals wanted from a veteran at the position.

Minshew played well in his last outing, and the move also opens the door for Beck to get a chance down the stretch. Therefore, Brissett could become available for a team in need. According to A to Z Sports NFL Trade Simulator, the Cardinals could get something around a seventh-round pick in a potential deal.

A team-friendly contract

Brissett, 33, is in a contract year, and his deal is very palatable for an acquiring team. Arizona agreed to a renegotiated one-year, $15.5 million contract, but most of it came as a $5.8 million signing bonus and an $8.64 million restructure bonus.

The base salary that would travel to a new team is just a proration of the veteran minimum. A team acquiring Brissett now would owe him roughly $722,000 for the rest of the season, and he would become a free agent next offseason.

He also has incentives. Brissett earns $285,000 for each regular-season win in which he plays 50% of the offensive snaps, capped at 10 games, plus $1.25 million for reaching 24 touchdown passes and $1.4 million for reaching 3,500 passing yards.

Brissett is a limited quarterback, but he has plenty of starting experience. He has played for the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, the Patriots once again, and the past two seasons for Arizona. For a team that needs a starter or a bridge option, Brissett can be viable.

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5 potential landing spots

1. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is in a complicated situation at quarterback. Lamar Jackson could be out for the season with a thumb injury. Backup Tyler Huntley suffered a turf toe injury that could keep him out for some weeks. Third-stringer Joe Fognano is also dealing with an ankle injury. The Ravens already signed Kedon Slovis to the active roster and Austin Reed to the practice squad, but adding a starting-caliber veteran makes sense for a team still hunting for a playoff spot.

2. Minnesota Vikings

This one carries some history. Last year, Brissett’s play led the Cardinals to a soft benching of Kyler Murray, and the same thing could happen again. Murray has not played well on his veteran minimum deal with the Vikings. In six games, he has completed 64.9% of his passes for 1,022 yards, five touchdown passes, and three interceptions, with an 86.6 passer rating. Minnesota has the weapons, so the question is whether Brissett fits Kevin O’Connell’s scheme.

3. Indianapolis Colts

Brissett has a strong connection with Indianapolis. He played for the Colts from 2017 through 2020 and started 30 games in that stretch. The fit depends on a scenario where Indianapolis trades Daniel Jones. If the Colts can get more capital for Jones than they would spend on Brissett, they would add draft picks and still have an experienced starter to evaluate the rest of the roster.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles would not want to spend much draft capital, and the season appears to be slipping away. However, Philadelphia is 2-6 and just 2.5 games behind the New York Giants, who lead the NFC East. Jalen Hurts is out for the season, and backup Tanner McKee has been a limited quarterback. The Eagles also have Joe Milton, whom they signed off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, and fifth-round rookie Cole Payton.

The whole operation is not functioning at a high level. But a viable veteran throwing to weapons like DeVonta Smith would be a significant upgrade over McKee, and head coach Nick Sirianni could be fighting for his job.

5. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons’ last game was alarming. Michael Penix Jr. completed only 8-of-24 passes with four interceptions and a 12.0 passer rating in a 16-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That happened in a game where Baker Mayfield went 0-for-3 for zero yards.

Penix had not been bad before that, but it was a concerning performance for an offense with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. More competent quarterback play would make that unit dangerous. The NFC South is wide open: Atlanta and Tampa Bay are both 3-5, while the Carolina Panthers lead the division at 3-4. Even with three wins, the Falcons are still competing for the division title, and Brissett could be a realistic solution.