The Arizona Cardinals have made an early call on their quarterback depth chart, and as expected, Jacoby Brissett is the man at the top—even if he's not currently in the building.

According to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, Brissett has been informed he's QB1, despite his ongoing holdout for a new contract. "I've been told that, as of now, Jacoby Brissett is QB1," Weinfuss reported. "Discussions between the team and Brissett are ongoing, just like his holdout."

Brissett has been absent from the Cardinals' voluntary offseason workouts, pushing for a multi-year deal that pays him like a starter. His current 2026 salary of nearly $4.9 million is solid backup money, but it doesn't come close to what even a low-end veteran starter commands. The team appears open to adjusting his contract, but whether they'll offer more than a single season remains to be seen.

While Brissett's absence could open the door for quarterbacks like Gardner Minshew or rookie Michael Beck, the Cardinals' plan is clear: Brissett is their guy. He won't be required back until mandatory minicamp (June 8-10), and he's willing to forgo a $50,000 workout bonus to get a better deal.

Brissett started the final 12 games of the 2025 season, finishing 1-11 (0-9 in his last nine starts). Still, he set career highs with 3,366 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes, helping tight end Trey McBride and receiver Michael Wilson enjoy career-best seasons. But with a 2-15 record as a starter over the past two years and a 20-45 career mark, the question is whether the 33-year-old can sustain that level of play.

For Cardinals fans and fantasy owners alike, this is a situation worth watching—especially if you're eyeing that new Brissett jersey for the upcoming season.