Jacoby Brissett trade: Colts get upside at QB, Patriots get speed
The New England Patriots traded QB Jacoby Brissett to the Indianapolis Colts for WR Phillip Dorsett. Here is what both teams accomplished from this trade.
This trade came as a surprise to me. I thought the New England Patriots would hold on to Brissett as they may lose backup Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency next offseason. Jacoby Brissett would slide into his spot and take over as the backup to Tom Brady next season.
However, it’s obvious that BIll Belichick isn’t necessarily concerned about next season, he’s concerned about now. So Jacoby Brissett was probably not going to play much this season and he needed to add more speed to his offense.
With the season ending injury to wide receiver Julian Edelman, the Patriots want to do every thing they can fill that void. Yes, the have other receivers who can step in but no one with the speed of Phillip Dorsett.
When the Indianapolis Colt draft Phillip Dorsett in the round one of the 2015 NFL Draft, I thought it was a reach. Yes, Dorsett has great speed but he was just a good player in college, he wasn’t dominant.
He ran a 4.33 forty at the 2015 Combine and that was what propelled him into the first round. However, Dorsett did not live up to his first round pedigree with the Colts. So the Patriots want to see if they tap into what made Dorsett so coveted but within their system.
And as we’ve seen before, playing with Tom Brady can take a player’s performance up to another level. So, the New England Patriots are willing to risk their future at quarterback if it means Phillip Dorsett can help them win another Super Bowl this year.
The Colts have uncertainty with their starting quarterback Andrew Luck and when he’ll be available to play. They have Scott Tolzien, who’s a competent backup and he knows the system but there’s not much upside.
Jacoby Brissett gives them a backup with some upside. If Andrew Luck is out longer than the Indianapolis Colts expect, then they’ll need someone who can come in and do more than just be a place holder. The fact that they made this move signifies that Luck could be out a while.
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As for Phillip Dorsett, perhaps this was the year that he would have broken out for the Indianapolis Colts. We’ll never know. But it wouldn’t have mattered if there was no one other than Andrew Luck who could the ball to him.