Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett embracing 'teammate-first' mentality

Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett knew there was a good chance the Patriots would use the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a quarterback when he signed with them in free agency.

That happened with New England selecting former UNC QB Drake Maye. However, the team drafted former Tennessee QB Joe Milton III in the sixth round.

Some veterans may not view it as their job to develop rookies who could eventually take their jobs, but Brissett is not one of them.

"When I was here the first time, you realize everybody's your mentor that's older than you in this league or has more experience, and I hope I'm that for more than just Drake," Brissett said via the team's official website. "I'm a teammate first. I can be a good teammate to not only [Maye] but to everybody on this team."

Brissett was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He joined a quarterback room that already included Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo.

He knew it would take unlikely circumstances for him to find his way onto the field, so he focused on learning as much as he could from both players. 

Brissett's stint in New England didn't last long. A year later, he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, but Maye reminds him of himself at the beginning of his NFL career.

"I remember when I was following Tom [Brady] around," Brissett added. "[Maye's] already texting me about plays and how I think about things and cadence — all the little nuances of being in this position at this level."

Brissett knows that whether he gets the nod to start come Week 1, the job is not his long-term, but the 31-year-old isn't going down without a fight, either.

"I think the good thing about our room is honestly everybody wants to be the guy," Brissett stated. "Everybody's competing to be the guy. That's what you want."