Cardinals near a deal to trade QB Jacoby Brissett to the Ravens

The Arizona Cardinals are finalizing a trade that sends quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter said Wednesday. The deal is expected to be completed this weekend.

What's confirmed and what isn't. Neither team has announced the trade, and the compensation has not come out. Rapoport said Brissett has been saying goodbye to Arizona teammates and coaches. Schefter said the deal won't close in time for Brissett to play Thursday night against Jacksonville, so undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano still starts that game for Baltimore.

Why Baltimore is buying. Lamar Jackson has a thumb injury that needs surgery and could end his season, and backup Tyler Huntley is done for the year with turf toe. The Ravens are 4-4 and last in the AFC North. Once the trade is final, Brissett is expected to debut in Week 10 on Monday Night Football against the Chargers on Nov. 16. He would be Baltimore's fourth different starting quarterback in 23 days.

Why Arizona is selling. The Cardinals benched Brissett late in the third quarter of Sunday's 33-30 overtime win over Dallas, named Gardner Minshew the starter and dropped Brissett to third behind rookie Carson Beck. Brissett asked for a trade Monday, according to ESPN. He had started the last 20 games for Arizona and was sacked 62 times in that stretch, tied for the most in the league. He is due $15.5 million guaranteed this season under the reworked deal he got after his offseason holdout.

Ravens quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork held the same job in Arizona last season and also coached Brissett in Cleveland in 2022, so there is a short learning curve.

What RSO owners should do now. In superflex and 2QB leagues, Brissett goes from a Cardinals QB3 with no path to snaps to a likely starter from Week 10 on. If he is on waivers, he is worth a modest bid. Fagnano is a one-week play at most. For Baltimore's pass catchers, a veteran passer is a steadier floor than a rookie, so hold them.

What to watch next. The official trade announcement and terms this weekend, and whether Baltimore names Brissett the starter for the Chargers game. Jackson's surgery timeline decides how long this lasts.