While few Kansas City Chiefs players can walk away in free agency and find a better landing spot, that is exactly what happened for Gardner Minshew. The current Arizona Cardinals signal-caller has put himself in a position of having a legitimate chance of competing for a spot as a starter. With Patrick Mahomes rostered, this obviously was a complete impossibility if Minshew returned to Kansas City for another season. Minshew's hopes of finding his way into the Cardinals' starting lineup are bolstered by the recent actions of Jacoby Brissett.
The veteran didn't show up for voluntary OTAs, with ESPN's Ian Rapoport reporting, "QB Jacoby Brissett is not present as his team begins its first practice of voluntary OTAs. The starting QB has been staying away as he seeks a raise for 2026." If this dispute continues, all of a sudden, Minshew is the likely starter with rookie Carson Beck the only other rostered quarterback of note.
Minshew, Brissett, and Beck, even if all are healthy, still leave an obvious chance for Minshew to find his way into the starting lineup. This would be far from the first time the veteran has earned this opportunity, with the former Chief having 47 career starts.
Former Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew landing surprise starting opportunity
What will be very interesting to watch from Kansas City's perspective is how the quarterback fares if he is handed a starting opportunity. It could be easy to look back and regret letting the veteran walk away if he is a viable starting option at this stage of his career. However, there is no denying the Chiefs got more athletic at the position by acquiring Justin Fields.
Fields hands the franchise an opportunity to utilize the backup position as a wildcat option and a clear potential weapon. Minshew isn't capable of filling this role and obviously had no path into Kansas City's starting lineup. This makes it easy to understand why both sides made the correct choice in turning the page and finding a new landing spot.
Brissett holding out only allows Minshew to play catch-up with Arizona and close ground on the starting quarterback. It will be interesting to watch how long this holdout lasts and whether or not it ends with Minshew as Arizona's starter.
No question, Minshew is a former KC piece fans can't help but keep an eye on based on the chance that lies in front of last year's backup quarterback. It will be entertaining to watch how it's managed and whether or not it ends with Chiefs fans having any level of regret.
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