Arizona Cardinals Week 1 Starting QB NFL Betting Odds & Predictions

The NFL is almost done with organized team activities (OTAs) and nearly into mandatory minicamp, which most teams hold during the first two or three weeks of June. And yet, there are several clubs that have not yet figured out what to do at quarterback. One of those is the Arizona Cardinals.

Perhaps the most unlucky team in the league, the Cardinals sit in the NFC West with the defending-champion Seahawks, the super-charged Rams, and the always-relevant 49ers. And now they have to deal with a contract holdout from their starting QB in Jacoby Brissett. Yes, you read that right.

The Cardinals aren’t completely beholden to the veteran, as they signed Gardner Minshew to a backup deal during free agency and cashed in a third round pick on rookie Carson Beck at the draft. So, who will win the QB battle in Arizona? Or will there even be one? Read on for the NFL betting odds and our predictions for the Cardinals QB race!

Arizona Cardinals Week 1 Starting QB NFL Betting Odds & Predictions

All betting odds provided by Betway.

Our Best Bet: Jacoby Brissett (-295)

Kyler Murray’s days were always numbered in the desert. Jacoby Brissett just gave him a nudge out the door with his surprisingly acceptable play in 2025. Brought on as a backup for Murray, Brissett took over for the injured star and played well enough to win the job for himself.

Brissett went a woeful 1-11 in his 12 starts (that one win coming against the Cowboys in primetime), but he was often not the reason for the losses. Arizona scored 20+ in eight of those 12 games, but the defense allowed 27+ in nine of them. During that 12-game stretch to end the season, Brissett was second in passing yards (3,366) and third in passing TDs (23).

Considering that performance, he feels he deserves a pay raise. And that’s not entirely unfair–if they want to roll with him as their starter for 2026. He has been holding out for three weeks now, missing all of Arizona’s OTAs. But if he sits out minicamp, these odds could change big time.

In the end, Brissett will sign a better deal. It only makes sense. He’d be making the fewest of any starting QB in the league by a wide margin if he did win the QB1 job. In fact, his current $4.88 million base salary is lower than what Arizona gave Gardner Minshew, who is supposedly the backup.

The deal will get done, but it might be worth it to wait and see if Brissett’s holdout improves his odds at all over the next few days and weeks.

Dark Horse Candidate: Carson Beck (+700)

If you’re not going to go with Brissett, then Beck is our next best choice. He offers twice as much value as Minshew does, and we think he’s got an equal shot at the job. He’s not your usual rookie QB that comes in all green and needs time to learn the ropes.

His game is raw, sure. But he is 24 years old (and born just one day after Caleb Williams, who enters his third NFL season this year) and has started 43 games over the last few seasons for some of the biggest college programs in the nation.

If Brissett’s holdout hits a snag and he’s moved or benched, we think Beck might as well be the guy to step in. It’s not like the Cardinals are going anywhere this season anyway. Why not give the big rook a look?