As Day 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft began to wind down, the New England Patriots made a surprising selection of North Carolina State QB Jacoby Brissett. A talented player with incredible intangibles, have the Patriots found their franchise quarterback of the future?
The fact that the Patriots took a quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft was not a surprise to me. As soon as the Tom Brady suspension news came across earlier in the week, it seemed obvious that the Patriots would look to add someone at the position. However, in a seemingly weak quarterback class, I never expected them to take one in the third-round.
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With their third selection of the entire draft (91st overall), the New England Patriots selected quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Friday night. With Brady suspended for the first four-games, Brissett now sits as the back-up quarterback on the Patriots’ roster. That being said, barring injury Jimmy Garoppolo is going to take all of the snaps until Brady can play. This is a pick with an eye towards the future.
Brissett is a talented quarterback whose obvious mobility is a strong asset for him on the field. An ability to take off and pick up yardage with his legs is an obvious strength of Brissett’s, but his mobility also allows him to create time in the pocket. Brissett shows strong pocket awareness. When that is coupled with his mobility, it makes him an extremely difficult quarterback to sack.
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The NC State product also has a strong throwing arm. While his deep ball accuracy is spotty, Brissett has the raw ability to make any NFL throw on the field. On top of that, he shows fantastic decision-making skills and a great ability to read an opposing defense. Obviously, those are incredibly important for a quarterback at the next level.
Brissett has impressive raw ability, but he also shows great intangibles. He is an extremely tough player who has shown the ability to play through injuries in the past and pick up tough yardage on the ground when necessary. Brissett is also considered to be a high-character player with elite leadership skills.
At the quarterback position, leadership is among the most important traits of a player. Guys look to their quarterback to lead them in the toughest times in the game. If a quarterback can not lead a huddle with confidence, he has no chance in the NFL. Brissett is given high marks in that department.
As you can tell, there is a ton to like with Brissett. His physical traits are top-notch and he is a natural-born leader who will never step down from a challenge. That being said, he is a raw talent who struggles with his accuracy at times. Passing accuracy is an obvious issue of his, and in my eyes it comes down to his footwork.
His ability to move around and make plays is part of the appeal of Brissett, but I also think it has a lot to do with his struggles. Brissett rarely sets his feet, constantly throwing on the run or while falling back. Obviously, plays can be made while throwing on the run, but Brissett commonly makes mistakes while falling back and making awkward movements while throwing.
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Fortunately, this is something that can and will be cleaned up with NFL coaching. Bill Belichick has one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL, and they are going to quickly clean-up Brissett’s shaky footwork.
Brissett is a raw player, but he is an obvious talent who is willing to learn and improve as a player. The Patriots will be able to bring him in and mold him in to a capable player at the quarterback position.
Considering Garoppolo is likely to hit free agency before Brady retires, I completely understand the Patriots looking to add a developmental quarterback in the draft. The Patriots obviously love the talent and upside that Brissett brings to the table, and I agree with their assessment of him as a player.
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A guy who they can work with to refine his skills, Brissett has franchise quarterback upside at the next level. He is far from a sure-thing, but it is easy to see the appeal here. In Jacoby Brissett, the New England Patriots may have found their quarterback for life after Tom Brady.