Damien Woody thinks the Patriots’ QB room is in a ‘great place’ with Jacoby Brissett
The two-time Patriots Super Bowl champion called Brissett a "pro's pro," advocating for New England to consider sitting rookie Drake Maye.
There are two contrasting philosophies when it comes to developing a rookie quarterback.
First, there’s the conservative approach. Sit the young signal-caller behind a veteran, let him learn the offense in an older quarterback room.
On the opposite side of the spectrum lies the second approach: Throw them in the deep end until they learn to swim.
When the Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett at the outset of free agency, the ninth-year quarterback was thought to be a placeholder for an incoming rookie. But following the selection of UNC’s Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the NFL draft, a Week 1 starter has yet to be named.
New England will have the offseason and training camp to determine who the team wants under center. If new head coach Jerod Mayo opts to start Brissett, Maye could spend extra time working on his fundamentals – an area that the 21-year-old needs to improve upon. Alternatively, they could slot him in ahead of Brissett, taking their chance on the unproven but talented rookie.
“Both ways can work. I think it’s gotta be what’s right for the particular situation,” former Patriots offensive lineman and ESPN analyst Damien Woody said on MassLive’s “Eye on Foxborough” podcast. “First thing I look at is Jacoby Brissett. You couldn’t ask for a better quarterback to be in the quarterback room. He’s literally a pro’s pro. You can win with Jacoby Brissett.”
Brissett — who was drafted by the Patriots in 2016 and has since made stops with the Colts, Dolphins, Browns, and Commanders — brings an element of experience and leadership to a young offense. Plus, the 31-year-old is intimately familiar with Alex Van Pelt’s offense. The two overlapped in Cleveland in 2022, where Brissett recorded his strongest career performance.
Slotting in for a then-suspended Deshaun Watson, Brissett played every offensive snap of the first 11 games, completing 64 percent of his passes for an 88.9 passer rating.
“I think first and foremost, the quarterback room is a great room for New England right now,” Woody said. “[Brissett] is a guy who will share the wealth of knowledge he’s learned in the National Football League. He will help Drake Maye.”
For a team that’s undergoing a rebuild, on the field and in the coach’s room, it’s critical to have as much support as possible. The way Woody sees it, Brissett can (and likely will) serve as a mentor for his young teammates.
“I even said it before the draft. ‘When New England drafts a quarterback, that quarterback needs to sit because I didn’t feel like the infrastructure in New England would help a young quarterback playing right away,” he said.
Woody, like many scouts and analysts, worry about Maye’s footwork. Affording the former Tar Heel more time to “iron out” mechanical issues could pay off in the long-run. And until then, Woody thinks that Brissett will have it covered on game day.
“I feel like the quarterback room is in a great place because Jacoby Brissett is in that room,” Woody said.
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