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Patriots reportedly sign QB Jacoby Brissett to 1-year contract
Brissett, 31, was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Patriots are reportedly bringing back a familiar friend at quarterback this season.
According to The Boston Globe’s Christopher Price and Nicole Yang, New England is signing quarterback Jacoby Brissett to a one-year, $8 million contract. The deal also includes up to $4 million in incentives.
Bringing back Brissett made plenty of sense for the Patriots in 2024, as the signal caller can fill in as either a veteran backup behind a blue-chip prospect like UNC’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels — or step up as a bridge starter if needed.
The 31-year-old signal-caller is already familiar with Foxborough, but also started 11 games with the Browns in 2022 when current New England offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt held the same role in Cleveland.
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According to multiple reports, including Ben Volin of The Boston Globe and Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots identified Brissett as a top offseason target once the NFL’s legal tampering window opened on Monday.
“Expect him to be one of the Patriots’ first calls when negotiations can begin at noon,” Graff noted.
“Van Pelt loved coaching Brissett, per the source, and the Patriots view Brissett as a hard worker who can be a good role model for the rookie and help establish a positive culture in the locker room,” Volin added.
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Brissett was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of NC State, playing one season in New England and starting two games during Tom Brady’s “DeflateGate” suspension.
In the seven seasons since New England traded Brissett to Indianapolis for WR Phillip Dorsett in September 2017, the QB has played for four teams (Colts, Dolphins, Browns, Commanders) — starting 48 total games over the course of his NFL career.
With New England reportedly trading Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Patriots had a vacancy at the quarterback position in 2024.
Adding a veteran QB with familiarity with both the Patriots and Van Pelt’s offensive schemes falls in line with New England’s reported plan for its quarterback depth chart in 2024.
MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Karen Guregian, and Chris Mason reported late last month that the Patriots are planning to overhaul their QB room via a three-step plan this offseason.
“According to multiple sources, the Patriots are planning to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick,” Daniels, Guregian, and Mason wrote. “One NFL executive, outside of New England, relayed that it’s widely expected in league circles that quarterbacks will be selected with the first three picks in April. … Drafting a signal caller is only one step in this process.
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“According to a source, the Patriots plan on signing a veteran free agent quarterback, too. The team is in no rush to start a rookie immediately and could play that veteran if they think it would benefit the younger quarterback to sit for a season.”
Brissett stands as the veteran option that New England can turn to if their drafted QB needs some seasoning during the 2024 season, while the third step in that plan involved finding a trade partner for Jones this offseason.
With Brissett back in Foxborough and Jones in Jacksonville, the final part of that extensive plan will be determined in late April with whichever QB the Patriots pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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