Three Reasons Why Jacoby Brissett Is The Right Choice For Cardinals Over Kyler Murray

2 jam yang lalu

The Cardinals made a significant—potentially franchise-altering—decision heading into Week 10, announcing that they’d be moving guardant pinch Jacoby Brissett arsenic their starting quarterback this coming Sunday against nan Seahawks.

On nan surface, it doesn’t sound each that important. Kyler Murray, Arizona’s franchise signal-caller, is dealing pinch a ft wounded for which nan prognosis indicates a four-to-eight week recovery—with an accrued chance of a setback should it not decently heal. The 28-year-old hasn't played successful conscionable nether a period and was placed connected injured reserve connected Wednesday, and will now miss astatine slightest nan adjacent 4 games.

It’s coach Jonathan Gannon’s remarks connected nan matter, however, that person added to nan intrigue.

After nan Cardinals’ 27-17 triumph complete nan Cowboys connected Monday night, Gannon was asked if Murray would stay nan starter erstwhile he’s backmost healthy, to which he responded, “Nothing’s changed.” On Tuesday morning, however, he named Brissett nan starter and told reporters that Murray will “continue moving connected his wellness bucket,”—while notably not ruling him retired arsenic a imaginable backup connected Sunday vs. nan Seattle. A constituent that's now null and void fixed Murray's placement connected IR.

MORE: Why a Kyler Murray–Tua Tagovailoa QB Swap Makes Sense

“I do for illustration really we’re operaring arsenic an offense,” Gannon explained connected his determination to instrumentality pinch Brissett. “...I return each nan variables that I person and make a decision, and make nan determination erstwhile I request to. And I deliberation we’re doing a beautiful bully occupation connected offense. I for illustration what we’re doing connected discourtesy correct now.”

Arizona is rightfully doing its portion to hit astir nan bush and make this thing it isn't. But make nary correction astir it: this isn’t just injury-related—Gannon all-but said it himself.

And present are 3 reasons why it’s nan correct move to spell pinch Brissett not conscionable this week, but for nan remainder of nan season.

The Cardinals are turning to Jacoby Brissett astatine quarterback. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

After starting nan play 2–0, Arizona dropped its adjacent 5 games earlier putting its losing streak to a halt against Dallas—and they were capable to do so, successful part, because of their ratio connected 3rd down.

For conscionable nan 2nd clip this season—both instances coming pinch Brissett nether center—the Cardinals converted much than 50% of their third-down attempts, going 7-for-13 connected Monday night. The discourtesy is now converting 56% of said attempts complete nan past 3 games successful which Brissett has started. With Murray nether center, meanwhile, Arizona was converting conscionable 38% of its attempts.

Additionally, contempt Murray completing a higher percent of his passes (68.3% vs. 65.2%), Brissett has some posted nan amended passer standing (102.5 vs. 88.6) and TD:INT ratio (6/1 vs. 6/3) truthful acold this year.

Production

Marvin Harrison Jr. group a profession precocious successful receptions connected Monday night. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Not only has nan Cardinals' discourtesy been highly businesslike since Brissett took complete nan reins, but its accumulation crossed nan committee has surged.

With Brissett starring nan offense, Arizona is putting up much points per crippled (25.7 vs. 20.6) and full yards per crippled (356.7 vs. 288.4) than they did pinch Murray, while nan backmost is besides throwing for importantly much yards per crippled (286.6 vs. 192.4).

Additionally, those astir nan awesome callers are besides seeing a jump successful their numbers. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.—Arizona's first-round prime successful nan 2024 NFL draft—caught a career-high 7 passes and scored his first touchdown successful complete a period during past week’s triumph complete nan Cowboys. His moving mate, Michael Wilson, meanwhile, recorded a season-high 61 yards connected Monday night, while tight extremity Trey McBride has hauled successful 4 touchdowns since Brissett took complete successful Week 6—compared to conscionable 1 successful 5 games pinch Murray.

“I deliberation we’ve sewage a batch of talent connected this offense,” said Brissett connected Wednesday. “It’s been nosy these past mates weeks, obviously, to get retired location and play pinch those guys.”

Given nan statistical improvement, it’s adjacent to opportunity they’re enjoying it pinch him, too.

Kyler Murray signed a $230 cardinal statement hold up of nan 2022 season. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The final—and possibly astir obvious—reason why nan Cardinals are making nan correct determination here, is nan money down it.

Murray is successful twelvemonth 3 of nan five-year, $230.5 cardinal hold he signed pinch nan nine up of nan 2022 season, and signs proceed to constituent to this being nan last one. That's portion of why sticking pinch Brissett is simply a smart financial move.

Keeping Murray connected nan bench—and healthy—inherently preserves his waste and acquisition worth heading into nan offseason. If he returns to nan section and struggles, aliases worse, gets injured again, his marketplace would apt disappear. Trading Murray this spring would prevention nan Cardinals astir $40 cardinal successful dormant headdress space, according Spotrac.com—a acold amended result than an outright merchandise from nan matrimony that feels headed for a divorce.

Earlier this year, Murray made a tongue-in-cheek comment astir “hopefully” still being astir erstwhile Arizona’s caller shot installation is completed successful 2028. At this rate, that continues to consciousness little and little likely.