Cardinals Might Have to Prove How Much They Like Jacoby Brissett

What They're Saying

Rapoport: "[Brissett] is asking for an extension that pays him as the starter. Brissett, set to make $9.06M in '26, has only $1.5M in guaranteed money and wants security. AZ appears willing to address it."

GM Monti Ossenfort, via Rapoport, when asked whether Brissett is the starter: "Not really naming anybody and we'll see how that room works by the time we get to August."

2026 Fantasy Football Impact

Let's get this out of the way first: This probably doesn't matter all that much.

Arizona doesn't currently have another legitimate starting option rostered. Gardner Minshew arrived in free agency and is working back from a knee injury.

The Cardinals' best hope in the draft will be Alabama QB Ty Simpson, who started just 15 games for his college career. And the free-agent market boasts Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, and Jimmy Garoppolo as top options.

And even if Arizona named Brissett the starter now, he wouldn't become an attractive fantasy target. Yes, he reeled off a surprising run of nine straight top-12 fantasy finishes from Week 6 through Week 15 last year. But he got a large boost from attempting 56 more passes than any other QB over that stretch.

Expect far less of a passing lean for this year's Cardinals, even if they similarly struggle to win games.

So Why Are We Even Talking About This?

How Arizona addresses Brissett's contract desire matters for this season's planning, and perhaps beyond.

He's a long way from NFL-starter money at those aforementioned numbers. So the Cards could assuage their current least-bad option by adding some cash. Call it taking care of a vet who stepped up for you last year and will probably be needed again in 2026.

If Brissett holds out for more of a commitment beyond this season, though, we could see more turmoil at the position for a team with plenty of other issues.

Brissett makes for a highly volatile pick in best ball drafts at the moment. We'll see how the situation plays out as we move toward summer drafting.

Other Winners & Losers

TE Trey McBride stands as easily the most important fantasy asset in Arizona, and QB turmoil obviously has a chance to impact his outlook.

That said, this Brissett situation isn't altering my treatment of McBride in drafts. That's because I'm already not particularly interested in drafting him.

As the No. 1 TE in best ball ADP, he's already going in high-risk range and coming off the aforementioned late-2025 volume spike.

Our ADP Market Index pegs him as a poor value, with plenty of stronger TE options sitting behind him.

Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson also sit as unsavory draft values at WR33 and WR39, respectively, in Underdog Fantasy ADP.