The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to acquire Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals, adding a veteran arm to a quarterback room that has been severely impacted by injuries. According to ESPN, the trade is expected to be finalized over the upcoming weekend, although the specific details regarding compensation have not yet been publicly disclosed. This move comes as a critical response to the recent turmoil at the position for the NFL champions.
The need for a new starter became apparent after two-time MVP Lamar Jackson suffered a thumb injury during Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. The injury occurred on his first pass attempt and required surgery, raising concerns that it could end his season. Jackson's designated backup, Tyler Huntley, entered the game but quickly sustained his own season-ending turf toe injury. This left undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as the projected starter for the Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, despite Fagnano also dealing with an ankle issue.
Brissett has spent the last two seasons with the Cardinals but was recently demoted from the starting role to the third-stringer position. This change occurred after Gardner Minshew entered Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Minshew threw three touchdown passes, helping Arizona overcome a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 33-30 in overtime. In that same contest, Brissett completed 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards and one interception before being substituted.
The 34-year-old quarterback, who will turn 34 next month, has completed 63.3% of his passes this season. His stats include 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across eight games. CBS Sports Research noted that his connection with star tight end Trey McBride was exceptional entering Week 8. They recorded 75.6 yards per game, which is the highest output for a quarterback and tight end combination since 1970, provided at least 15 games were played.
This transaction marks the second trade of Brissett's career and his seventh team in the NFL. While he cannot replicate the dynamic playmaking style of Lamar Jackson, he brings substantial experience to the Baltimore offense. Brissett has started 73 games with a record of 23 wins and 50 losses. Furthermore, he has thrown 86 more career touchdowns than all other healthy quarterbacks on the Ravens roster combined.
His precision is also a notable asset. Brissett boasts a career interception percentage of 1.5%, which is tied for the second-lowest in NFL history behind Aaron Rodgers, who holds the record at 1.4%. In the past 365 days, Brissett is one of only five quarterbacks to accumulate 4,000 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. The others on that list include Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Dak Prescott.
The trade also represents an upgrade in terms of defensive support for Brissett. Over the last calendar year, the Arizona Cardinals have allowed 32.6 points per game, a figure that is four points higher than any other team in the league. In contrast, the Baltimore Ravens have allowed 22.6 points per game over the same period, providing a significantly more stable offensive environment.
Currently sitting in the last place in the AFC North with a 4-4 record, the Ravens hope that the presence of an experienced veteran under center will provide the stability needed to push their way into the postseason.
