Insider: Patriots adding Brissett tipped hand about draft strategy

Jacoby Brissett. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Insider: Patriots adding Jacoby Brissett tipped hand about draft strategy

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 3/12/24

The New England Patriots are undergoing some major renovations at the quarterback position.

The team traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2024 sixth-round pick over the weekend and agreed to terms with former third-round pick Jacoby Brissett on a one-year, $8M deal on Monday, which according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston, indicates to the rest of the league what they’re planning to do with the No. 3 overall pick in next month’s draft.

Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett’s one-year, $8 million deal.

• $5 million signing bonus.
• $1.5 million base salary.
• $1 million in per-game roster bonuses.
• $500K workout bonus.
• $4 million in incentives.

(The incentives are tied to play-time and play-time/playoffs.)
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 13, 2024

“There is a plan here, and I think it is indicative of the fact that they are very likely to take a quarterback at No. 3 overall,” Perry said. “That's what the league would tell you, just talking to people (on Monday). The league would tell you, ‘Oh, well, they signed Jacoby Brissett to a backup contract. It's a backup deal, right? … They're taking a quarterback at No. 3.’”

USC’s Caleb Williams is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears, potentially leaving the Patriots with whoever the Washington Commanders don’t want between North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

The Patriots have maintained all along they’re not married to staying at No. 3 and are open to potentially trading down to acquire more picks.

New England has been linked to Daniels on more than one occasion, and the Heisman Trophy winner is on record stating he would welcome the chance to be the one to help bring the franchise back to its glory days.

“It would be dope,” Daniels said, via NESN. “Growing up and seeing what Tom Brady did — six Super Bowls — that’s going to be tough to live up to. It would be dope to come in there and, seeing the success they had, come in there and help them get back on track.”

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