The New England Patriots have had a busy week.
One day after trading quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick, New England struck in free agency by finding a replacement.
A familiar replacement, at that.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday night that the Patriots would be signing Jacoby Brissett. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport added that it’s a one-year deal for Brissett worth $8 million.
Source: #Patriots plan to sign quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
A reunion in New England. pic.twitter.com/Y3qZwMSg72
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 12, 2024
Source: The #Patriots have agreed to terms with QB Jacoby Brissett, who gets $8M on a 1-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2024
The Patriots originally drafted Brissett in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the idea that he, just like Brian Hoyer and Jimmy Garappolo before him would someday be Tom Brady’s successor. He played in just three games for the Patriots, including two starts, all of which came as Brady served a four-game suspension for his role in Deflategate. Brady’s return along with a thumb injury led Brissett to be inactive for the rest of the season, which saw New England beat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
New England traded Brissett to the Indianapolis Colts in September 2017, shortly before the season began. Andrew Luck suffered a shoulder injury which would keep him out for the whole season, and Brissett started 15 of the team’s 16 games, going 4-11 and throwing 13 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Brissett returned to a backup role upon Luck’s return in 2018 but was thrust back into the starting role following Luck’s abrupt retirement in the 2019 preseason. Brissett’s second season as a starter was an improvement on his first, leading the team to a 7-8 record in 15 starts and throwing 18 touchdown passes.
In the time since, Brissett has bounced around. He started five games for the Miami Dolphins in 2021 in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa and threw five touchdown passes. After the season he signed with the Cleveland Browns where he started 11 games as Deshaun Watson served his suspension. In 2023, Brissett signed with the Washington Commanders where he served as a backup to Sam Howell.
[Jeremy Fowler, Ian Rapoport]
