Not many quarterbacks drafted into the NFL have a lot of experience being a backup. Many passers drafted out of the first and second rounds are forced to transition from being the center of a team’s offense, to just a reserve player. This adjustment can be hard on rookie quarterbacks who’ve been leading teams their whole lives. The Patriots’ new rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett on the other hand, won’t have the same problem.
The Patriots’ new quarterback has a history of overcoming adversity, with a team-first attitude, and excellent work ethic. After committing to play college football for the Florida Gators, Brissett lost a quarterback battle with another one of Florida’s top recruits Jeff Driskel. He spent two seasons backing up Driskel with few opportunities before he made the tough decision to sit out a season and transfer to N.C. State.
In another unexpected New England draft move, the Patriots took the 6’4″, 235 lbs North Carolina State quarterback in third round with the 91st pick in the draft. Even with Tom Brady’s potential suspension looming, the pick came as a surprise, because of the Patriots 2014 second round pick: backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Patriots’ current number two quarterback has already earned the confidence of many fans and coaches in his limited playing opportunities, and it’s hard to imagine Brissett surpassing him. A third round pick is also a high price to pay for a player who likely won’t play soon, and a team that doesn’t have much time left to take advantage of winning with the luxury of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Tom Brady.
The simplest explanation for the pick is that Brissett is an insurance policy for when Garoppolo’s contract expires in 2017. Brady is signed through 2019, and there’s no guarantee the Patriots’ current backup will be willing to re-sign just to continue waiting for his turn, when other teams might offer him a bigger contract and a starting job. There’s much more to Brissett though than just gaining leverage over Garoppolo.
After Brissett transferred schools, he did not take his new starting job for granted. During the season he was ineligible to play for N.C. State, he studied film constantly. Brissett went out of his way to support and motivate the team any way he could. As an ineligible player, he was under no obligation to travel with the team for road games, but he did. When the team went down by 42 points at halftime to Florida State, he didn’t have to say anything, but he did.
He gave a powerful speech about playing with heart, and although the speech may not have inspired the team to victory, it did earn Brissett a great deal of respect. It’s hard not to respect the commitment of a guy who drives ten hours to a game he didn’t have to go to, just to watch his team get destroyed in a game the team was expected to lose.
The next season Brissett earned the starting job as an eligible player, and his devotion to the team didn’t waver. In an interview, he revealed that he used to bake treats for his offensive linemen every Friday before a game to thank them for having his back. He was a leader for the offense on and off the field. Studying film also continued to be a huge part of Brissett’s commitment to the team. Not only would he watch film for N.C. State’s upcoming games, he also watched film of successful NFL quarterbacks in his spare time. In his first press conference as a member of the Patriots he explained his dedication to film:“As a quarterback, you know, just trying to be the best player on the field and make sure to leave no stones unturned and just constant hours of film trying to find ways to win games.”
Brissett’s patience, work ethic, and leadership are all valuable intangibles the Patriots recognized before they drafted him. The Patriots know Brissett is comfortable being a backup. He’s proven he can work hard and commit to a team, even if he’s not playing. He adds far more value to the Patriots than just a negotiating chip. These qualities are why he was worth a third round pick to a team that already has Garoppolo and Brady.
As organized team activities begin for the Patriots, Brisset remains the team’s only unsigned draft pick, but that hasn’t stopped him from participating fully in the team’s first OTA. Although he’s set as the team’s third string quarterback, it would be unwise to overlook him.
There are many Patriots fans who already feel comfortable with the idea of Garoppolo being Brady’s heir apparent, but the Patriot’s newest quarterback has the potential to make the decision of who will replace Brady much less clear-cut. Regardless of who the Patriots choose though, fans can have confidence that Brissett is also a legitimate option for the future. After all, heisn’t the only quarterback the Patriots have drafted with experience being a backup in college. Matt Cassel spent his time at USC behind Matt Leinart, and Brady backed up Brian Griese for two seasons at Michigan before fighting with Drew Henson to win the job. Both of those guys were pretty darn successful for the Patriots… one just a bit more so than the other.
Follow John King on Twitter @JohnKing8385
