NFL.com predicts Jacoby Brissett gets raise and starts the season for Arizona Cardinals

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the Arizona Cardinals the odd holdout from their starter who finished with a 1-11 record has created a lot of conversation around the idea of bumping up his pay.

While everyone looks at it from the perspective of if he is the starter once again heading into the season, he deserves to be paid more than his current amount, but there is always this weird caveat.

The caveat showed up in NFL.com's piece on the quarterback battles in the NFL, where the Cardinals quarterback battle was highlighted, and they came to the same conclusion almost everyone has as well:

PREDICTED OUTCOME:Brissett gets a raise and starts in Week 1; Beck eventually starts several games.

There was a lot of good analysis in there as well, so I highly recommend checking out the full article, but I wanted to just focus on the predicted outcome, which seems nearly universal from most fans/pundits.

If the outcome that let's just say 98% of people are expecting is that Beck starts games this year, which is almost going to assuredly happen because the team is bad, then what exactly are the Cardinals paying Brissett for?

If the expectation is that Brissett won't play the whole season, then I guess the question for the Cardinals becomes... what is the point?

You unfortunately made it obvious this offseason that you hade other people in mind at the position, making overtures with both Malik Willis and Jimmy Garoppolo.

You drafted Carson Beck.

If Jacoby wasn't the plan A or B then what is the difference in plan C or D? Especially if the overall expectation is he won't be the starter for 15+ games.

This whole offseason has been a class on how not to handle things from a team who seemingly has no rudder or plan.