The Jacoby Brissett Ravens trade is official. Baltimore finalized its deal with the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, bringing in the 33-year-old veteran to steady a quarterback room that has been turned upside down by injuries — and Brissett is now in line to become the fourth different Ravens starter in as many games.
The move came one day after Baltimore’s 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a defeat that stretched the Ravens’ losing streak to four games and dropped them to 4-5. With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both sidelined, the Ravens needed experience, and they needed it fast. Brissett gives them exactly that.
Jacoby Brissett Ravens Trade: What Baltimore Gave Up
Baltimore officially completed the trade on Friday, acquiring Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick from Arizona in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round selection and a 2028 seventh-round pick. The Cardinals also helped make the money work, converting a portion of Brissett’s remaining salary into a signing bonus before the deal went through.
To complete the move, the Ravens waived quarterback Austin Reed, who had been part of the team’s emergency depth after the injuries hit. Reed’s departure clears the way for Brissett to take control of the offense.
Why the Ravens Needed a Veteran Quarterback
The quarterback crisis in Baltimore started in Week 8, when Jackson suffered a right thumb injury and Huntley went down with a toe injury in the loss to Buffalo. Both landed on injured reserve, leaving the Ravens scrambling.
Rookie Joe Fagnano got the start on Thursday night against Jacksonville, but the night showed exactly why Baltimore went shopping for a veteran. Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for just 60 yards with two interceptions, finishing with a 22.7 passer rating as the Ravens managed only 10 points.
The numbers behind the slide are stark. Baltimore has now scored fewer than 14 points in four consecutive games — the first time that has happened in franchise history. An offense built around Jackson’s explosiveness has ground to a halt without him, and the passing game has become increasingly limited with each passing week.
Brissett’s Experience — and His 2026 Season in Arizona
What Brissett lacks in upside he makes up for in experience. The 33-year-old has 73 career starts across 11 NFL seasons, and he has played in just about every situation a quarterback can face.
This season, he started Arizona’s first eight games before being replaced by Gardner Minshew II. His availability made him an obvious target for a Ravens team that suddenly found itself relying on inexperienced quarterbacks during the most important stretch of its season.
For offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, Brissett is a quarterback who can run a real NFL offense right away — read a defense, protect the football, and keep the Ravens in games while Jackson recovers. That is a low bar, but it is one Baltimore’s recent starters have not been able to clear.
What Comes Next: Chargers on November 16
Brissett is expected to start when Baltimore hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, November 16. The extra days give the veteran time to learn Doyle’s system before taking the field.
Fagnano and newly signed Kedon Slovis remain options behind him, but the pecking order is now clear. The coaching staff will still need to decide how to structure the quarterback room going forward, particularly with Jackson unavailable for at least four games and Huntley’s injury expected to keep him sidelined for an extended period.
The Ravens could still make additional moves to address their depth. But for now, the message from Baltimore is simple: the bleeding has to stop, and Brissett is the man tasked with stopping it.
Can One Trade Save Baltimore’s Season?
Nobody in Baltimore is pretending that one trade fixes everything. Brissett’s arrival will not immediately solve the offensive line’s protection issues or the Ravens’ inability to sustain drives. But it gives head coach Jesse Minter and Doyle an experienced quarterback who can stabilize the position — and stability is the one thing this offense has not had in a month.
Sitting below .500 with the season slipping away, the Ravens are in salvage mode. The trade for Brissett is another step in that effort, and if the veteran can simply keep the offense functional until Jackson returns, it may be enough to keep Baltimore’s season alive.