Donnie Druin#7 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 9, 2026
Druin names three Cardinals trade candidates on different timelines: Trey Benson now during the preseason (arguing they won't make the roster), Gardner Minshew at the Nov. 10 deadline as a veteran backup for a contender, and Josh Sweat after the 2026 season.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Donnie Druin said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBenson is now battling with Bam Knight for RB4 duties — and if you ask us — he's on the outside looking in of the roster.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 3 Cardinals Trade Candidates Who Could Be Moved Now, Later or Down the Road
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart“Jacoby Brissett is set to be the immediate starter while Carson Beck might just be ready to step into action sooner as opposed to later.”
- 2Gardner Minshew to move to Arizona Cardinals“Later: Gardner Minshew ... making him a strong candidate to play this season — and Minshew an even stronger candidate to be traded.”
- 3Josh Sweat to move to Arizona Cardinals“Down The Road: Josh Sweat ... This wouldn't be until after the 2026 season, though if we're projecting trade candidates, this might be Arizona's strongest bet ... that tone could change in 2027.”
- 4Trey Benson to move to Arizona Cardinals“One candidate to be traded now (preseason)... Now: Trey Benson ... The Cardinals would be wise to field offers on Benson and recoup something rather than flat-out cutting him ahead of the regular season.”
- 5Trey Benson to be cut“Benson is now battling with Bam Knight for RB4 duties — and if you ask us — he's on the outside looking in of the roster.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Gardner Minshew to move to Arizona Cardinals2 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Josh Sweat to move to Arizona Cardinals3 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Trey Benson to move to Arizona Cardinals4 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Trey Benson to be cut5 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls, 1 depth chart call and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Jacoby Brissett · 2026 season20 calls from 17 pundits between 1 and 1. Donnie Druin said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsJacoby BrissettArizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Trade and Signing CallsGardner MinshewArizona Cardinals
Gardner Minshew to move to Arizona Cardinals
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Trade and Signing CallsJosh SweatArizona Cardinals
Josh Sweat to move to Arizona Cardinals
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Trade and Signing CallsTrey BensonArizona Cardinals
Trey Benson to move to Arizona Cardinals
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Roster Spot CallsTrey BensonArizona Cardinals
Trey Benson to be cut
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Nathan Jahnke · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
In a Week 9 recap, Jahnke expects Mark Andrews to remain Baltimore's lead tight end but says rookie Matt Hibner is more likely than Josh Cuevas to eventually overtake them, and they anticipate the Ravens acquiring Jacoby Brissett to start at quarterback. They also suggest Brian Thomas Jr. may have played their final game for Jacksonville ahead of the trade deadline.John Breech · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Breech picks the Jaguars to blow out the quarterback-depleted Ravens on Thursday night, and in Week 9 takes the Bengals to outlast the Falcons in a Madrid shootout. They also expect Jacoby Brissett to be a Raven within 48 hours and to make their first Baltimore start in Week 11.Myles Simmons · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Reporting on the Cardinals' quarterback depth chart decision, Simmons suggests Jacoby Brissett becomes an obvious candidate to be traded as the third quarterback ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.John Breech · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
In their Week 8 grades, Breech argued the Bills should be considered the AFC's team to beat if their defense keeps playing well, and suggested the Buccaneers now look like the best team in the NFC South. They also floated that the Colts could move on from coach Shane Steichen, that Arizona might shop Jacoby Brissett before the deadline, and that Raiders back Mike Washington will keep out-snapping Ashton Jeanty.Jason La Canfora · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
La Canfora reported that the Cardinals are tanking for 2027 and will probably trade quarterback Jacoby Brissett if they can, and that Josh Sweat wants out of Arizona with Dallas expected to pursue them aggressively in a crowded market.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.