Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort was in the New England front office when the Patriots drafted Jacoby Brissett in the third round in 2016.

Jonathan Gannon was on the Colts' coaching staff for three seasons when the quarterback was in Indianapolis.

Drew Petzing was the Browns' quarterback coach when Brissett made 11 starts for the Cleveland in 2022.

If ever there was a player who the Cardinals knew intimately as they chased as a free agent, the 32-year-old Brissett is the one -- making Tuesday's reports that Brissett will be signing with the Cardinals as a free agent a natural. It is reportedly a two-year deal.

The Petzing connection led to speculation that the Cardinals might bring him in when Gannon and Petzing first arrived in 2023. (Current Cardinals QB coach Israel Woolfork was working on the offensive staff of the Browns as a Bill Willis Fellowship assistant in 2022 as well.)

Brissett, who started five games in his return to New England last season as a placeholder for Drake Maye, figures to be Kyler Murray's backup -- although incumbent Clayton Tune will make his play to stay in place (and Tune did beat out Desmond Ridder last year when Ridder was assumed to be QB2 after arriving in trade.)

Brissett has started 53 of 87 career games, throwing for 53 touchdowns and 24 interceptions with a passer rating of 84.3.

Brissett becomes the third reported agreement for the Cardinals with free agents from other teams, joining linebackers Josh Sweat and Akeem Davis-Gaither. Those players cannot officially sign with their new teams until 1 p.m. Wednesday.