Arizona Cardinals' Quarterback Shuffle & Spotlight on Backup QBs

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Quarterback Changes Put Gardner Minshew and J.J. McCarthy in the Spotlight

Arizona’s decision to give Jacoby Brissett a two-year deal with guaranteed money and then trade him to Baltimore suggests the team may want to see what it has in Carson Beck.

Gardner Minshew appears likely to receive more than one start. He could make three or four starts before Beck gets an opportunity near the end of the season. Arizona has performed better than expected, including wins over the Rams in Los Angeles and the Cowboys in Dallas, but the team continues to move players.

Joe Milton is now taking snaps under center for the first time with his new team in Philadelphia. Among the quarterbacks stepping into new situations, J.J. McCarthy may have the best chance to win a game, although Shedeur also has a good opportunity this week.

Drew Lock remains one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL. He may not be the ideal choice to start for 15 weeks, but he can help a team through a short stretch. Unlike Jameis Winston, who throws plenty of touchdowns but can also lose games with interceptions, Lock can provide stability for a couple of weeks. Seattle should be fine with him.

McCarthy is the biggest story because his situation has the potential to become something special. The Giants currently look like the best team in the division. If they can hang on and possibly win a playoff game, McCarthy’s value heading into next season could rise significantly.

McCarthy could become one of the most coveted players available through a trade. With the Giants heavily invested in Jackson Dart, the expectation is that Dart will take over next year, leaving the team to determine McCarthy’s future.