TEMPE – Monday is the official one-year anniversary of Jacoby Brissett taking over as the Arizona Cardinals’ starting quarterback. Although he has started 16 games and received a reworked contract guaranteeing him $15.5 million, the offense under his watch is a flash of potential coupled with a failure to execute in crunch time.
A performance of 277 yards, a touchdown and a passing rating of 103.1 in a Week 1 victory is followed by 541 total passing yards and five interceptions amid a three-game losing streak.
On Sunday, Arizona jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter before Brissett threw three interceptions, including a 98-yard pick six on the final play, for a 36-24 loss to the New York Giants that dropped his overall record as the team’s starter to 2-14.
“The first one, he was trying to give Marv a chance,” coach Mike LaFleur said about receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.. “The second one, people are going to disagree with me on this one in terms of batted balls.
“The third one, it’s fourth and goal. It’s the last play and he’s got to get the ball out of his hands, so I think we can provide better clarity to make sure that we’re not even in that situation.”
As a result, Arizona appears to be in the familiar position of searching for a viable quarterback.
Third-round pick Carson Beck presents untapped upside considering his performance in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6.
However, he was viewed as more of a developmental prospect coming out of Miami and is listed as the team’s third-string quarterback behind Gardner Minshew II.
LaFleur also shut down any speculation of a quarterback change on Monday.
“Let’s focus on this week and try to be as good as we can be,” LaFleur said. “We were 12 feet away from scoring 30, but we didn’t and we lost. So we’ve got to improve from it and work to be 1-0 this week.”
LaFleur hasn’t shied away from attacking teams through the air as the Cardinals have thrown at least 35 pass attempts in three of the first four games of the season. With the ball on the Giants’ 4-yard line and 22 seconds left in the contest, he leaned on the quarterback to get the job done on four consecutive passing plays.
While the 39-year-old first-time head coach is still in the opening phase of his coaching tenure, the pursuit of the franchise’s next quarterback of the future has been ongoing since Carson Palmer’s retirement in 2018.
As luck would have it, the 2027 quarterback class appears to have a variety of intriguing options for Arizona to consider once April 29 rolls around. ESPN analyst Jordan Reid has six quarterbacks in the top 50 of his overall draft rankings, potentially pitting 2027 against other legendary drafts such as 2024’s six first-round quarterbacks as well as 2004 and 1983 both producing three hall-of-fame caliber starters.
Here’s a brief overview of seven of the top prospects:
Arch Manning, Texas
Height: 6-4
Weight: 222 pounds
2026 Stats: 73 of 115 (63.5%) | 862 Yards | 7 TD | 3 INT
The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning has looked the part at times thanks to his ideal frame, strong arm talent and play-making ability on the ground. However, he’s yet to ease concerns about processing the field as plays develop and creating pressure due to indecisiveness despite starting 19 games.
He’s “still only at best with concepts that allow him to execute simple reads,” Reid said.
Dante Moore, Oregon
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220 pounds
2026 Stats: 66 of 99 (66.7%) | 926 Yards | 9 TDs | 0 INTs
After leading Oregon to the College Football Playoff semifinal in 2025 and watching analysts project him as a top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, Moore took a sizable gamble by returning to Eugene for his junior season.
Although he’s still displayed what he’s best at – his footwork and ability to operate within a system this season – questions remain about his pocket presence and below-average showings against top competition.
Moore also suffered a concussion on Sept. 26 against USC, and it is currently unknown when he will return.
CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220 pounds
2026 Stats: 88 of 124 (71%) | 1,197 Yards | 13 TDs | 1 INTs
Carr threw for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions with a 66.6% completion rate in his first season as the starter for Notre Dame. Through five games in 2026, he’s building upon the foundation he set during his sophomore season with stout decision-making, coordination and play-recognition.
While his arm strength and mobility aren’t exceptional, Carr’s continuous improvement throughout his collegiate career makes him a prospect worth keeping an eye on.
Darian Mensah, Miami (FL)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205 pounds
2026 Stats: 112 of 133 (84.2%) | 1,438 Yards | 15 TDs | 0 INTs
Mensah’s draft stock has skyrocketed thanks to his exceptional play in his first season with the Hurricanes.
Whenever he’s in a rhythm, the junior signal caller can pick opposing defenses apart through his pinpoint accuracy and strong pocket presence. He’s a true pocket passer in the sense that he’s unlikely to do any damage on the ground, and turnovers have been his kryptonite in the past with 12 interceptions over the past two seasons.
His performance against No. 3 Notre Dame on Nov. 7 will make a huge difference in where he is taken in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215 pounds
2026 Stats: 95 of 141 (67.4%) | 1,271 Yards | 11 TDs | 5 INTs
The former zero-star prospect took the college football world by storm in 2025 when he led the country in passing yards at North Texas.
Since following coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, Mestemaker has only continued to rise up draft boards due to his ability to stretch the field with his arm and use his legs when necessary.
The biggest knocks against him are his decision-making leading to occasional turnovers, inconsistency from game-to-game and an overall lack of experience, He started no varsity games in high school and didn’t earn a start until he played at North Texas, where he walked on, and later Oklahoma State.
His propensity to produce highlight-reel moments is enough so that Reid named him the No. 11 overall prospect and No. 1 quarterback prospect in his 2027 NFL Draft rankings.
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205 pounds
2026 Stats: 102 of 144 (70.8%) | 1,222 Yards | 8 TDs | 3 INTs
It’s hard to fathom that Chambliss was not the starter for Ole Miss at the start of the 2025 season.
Since stepping into the role mid-season, the Ferris State transfer has dazzled onlookers with above-average arm strength, dynamic mobility, avoidance of turnovers and a knack for stepping up in crucial situations.
The main issue with analyzing how Chambliss’ skillset will translate to the professional level is his measurables, and especially his age considering he’ll be 25 when the 2027 season begins.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Height: 6-3
Weight: 238 pounds
2026 Stats: 92 of 152 (60.5%) | 1,059 Yards | 8 TDs | 4 INTs
Projecting where Sellers will land in the draft requires more of a look at what he can be rather than what he is now.
His 2024 season encapsulates his endless potential as a quarterback: impeccable throwing arm, elite mobility and a rare physical frame that he uses to his advantage.
Since throwing for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first season as a starter, Sellers hasn’t been able to reach those heights again. His tendency to commit turnovers and errors alongside inconsistency in reading the field in front of him reflects more of a boom-or-bust label than previously thought.
Race for the No. 1 pick
If the first four weeks of the season are any indication, the Cardinals will have a lot of competition for the top spots in the draft.
The Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins have all yet to win a game. Other 1-3 teams like the New York Jets and Washington Commanders are also ahead of Arizona in the draft order.
Ultimately, the deciding factor in whether or not the Cardinals will be in a position to select their next franchise quarterback in six months is their upcoming schedule. From Weeks 5 to 11, the team will face the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams (twice), Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mock draft season typically doesn’t begin until Week 18 has passed, but considering the Cardinals’ $15.5 million investment at quarterback is already trending in the wrong direction while also throwing in a season-ending injury to offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. after tearing his left biceps, it may not be such a bad thing to start planning ahead for the future.
Be the first to comment