Patriots Reunite With Former Quarterback to Mentor Incoming Rookie

The New England Patriots are reuniting with a former quarterback, as they signed Jacoby Brissett to a one-year, $8 million deal on Monday night.

As was reported around the combine, the Patriots were interested in signing a veteran bridge quarterback for the 2024 while they developed their rookie signal caller behind the scenes. Brissett certainly fits that billing, and the one-year duration of the deal is obviously in alignment with him presumably mentoring the Patriots rookie quarterback. New England holds the third overall pick in next month's draft.

Brissett, 31, was originally drafted by New England in the third round in 2016 before embarking on a journeyman career that included stops in Indianapolis (2017-20), Miami (2021), Cleveland (2022), and most recently with the Washington Commanders last season.

He played in three regular season games for the Patriots in 2016 while Tom Brady was serving his Deflategate suspension and backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went down with an injury.

Brissett and new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt worked together during the 2022 season in Cleveland, with Van Pelt serving as the Browns' offensive coordinator that season. Brissett played in 16 games that season, completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,608 yards and 12 touchdowns to six interceptions. He also racked up 243 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Brissett only threw 23 passes last season, mostly sitting behind Sam Howell with the Commanders.

New Patriots head personnel executive Eliot Wolf has deep ties to the Green Bay Packers, where he worked from 2004-2017. The Packers have been a major proponent of the approach to draft a first-round quarterback and sit them and let them develop. They first employed this strategy with Aaron Rodgers and most recently with Jordan Love, a strategy that could definitely be chalked up as successful in light of Love's first full pro season. It appears Wolf has brought a touch of the Green Bay way to New England.

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