Patriots Draft Quarterback Jacoby Brissett In Third Round
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots knew they'd be adding another quarterback to the roster at some point this offseason.
They did so Friday night, drafting NC State's Jacoby Brissett with the 91st overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Brissett is a big quarterback at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, and he brings a strong arm to the NFL with 2,662 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Wolfpack in 2015-16. An ACC quarterback, Brissett put up those numbers against some of the better defenses in the country. In his two years at NC State, Brissett completed 60 percent of his passes for 5,268 yards while tossing 43 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
Brissett spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Florida, working with former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis in 2011, before transferring to NC State.
His addition to the New England roster gives the Pats a third-string quarterback and some insurance when Tom Brady serves his four-game DeflateGate suspension to start the season. While he is seen as a project pick, he'll provide a little competition for backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and could eventually slide into the No. 2 slot on the depth chart should the Patriots trade Garoppolo or he leaves via free agency after the 2017 season.
Here is what Brissett had to say to the New England media after being drafted by the Patriots:
Question: What was your initial reaction to being drafted by the Patriots?
Jacoby Brissett: I had a great visit when I went up there with those guys a couple of weeks ago and I'm just overly joyed and excited about the opportunity to learn from the greatest in the business in Coach [Bill] Belichick, and Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady. When I got my call it was crazy.
Q: When did you have a sense that they were interested in you?
JB: Not until they called me and I talked to Coach Belichick and Mr. [Robert] Kraft and they just gave me the word right before the pick was announced and I was ecstatic. It was a moment you look forward to all of your life and a dream come true.
Q: What is your work ethic like in the film room?
JB: 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. [Joe] Thuney's the same way. He's a student of the game. He loves football. It's crazy that me and him will be on the same team again. I just can't wait to get up there and start learning the game.
Q: Do you feel like you've been vindicated after your transfer from Florida to North Carolina State and now being drafted?
JB: Definitely. It all paid off in the long run. I think it gave me a chance to help grow me as a man, as a player, and I wouldn't change it for the world. If I could I'd go back and do it all over again. Everything has worked out for a reason. It put me into the situation where I'm at today.
Q: How valuable was your experience with Charlie Weis during your time at Florida?
JB: I think it was tremendous. We simulated some of the stuff that the Patriots do now and it kind of gave me a little familiarity with some of the stuff when I went up there on my visit. I think he was instrumental to my learning curve in college and I definitely carried a lot of things that he instilled in me at Florida.
Q: Did you stay in touch with him after leaving Florida?
JB: Not too much. Once he got the job at Kansas I rarely got to talk to him after that.
Q: What does Bill Parcells mean to you and how did that relationship start?
JB: It started in high school. He has a house out here and he comes around my high school a lot and him and my high school coach, Jack Daniels, are real good friends and I got the privilege to meet him and he's been – I can't even describe what type of person he is and what he's meant to my life. Just him grooming me as a man and preparing me for tough times, hard times, good times. He's been so helpful to me throughout this process and just keeping my steady and keeping a good head on my shoulders and you know I just can't thank him enough.
Q: What is your comfort level receiving snaps under center?
JB: I did it in high school, did it in college so I mean I'm very familiar with it. It won't be a problem transitioning to it at the next level.
Q: Did they allow you to make checks at the line at North Carolina State?
JB: At times we had checks out to the run game and some protections as far as pass game, so I mean I'm sure when I get to New England it will be a little different, but I'll still take some of the same nuances and some of the same knowledge and be ready to learn from those guys.
Q: Is it a good situation for you to be able to sit behind a guy like Tom Brady and learn from him?
JB: It's an awesome experience. You've got one of the greatest coaches of all time in Bill Belichick, and you've got Josh McDaniels who's a very good coach, and you've got Tom Brady who you can learn from in every aspect of your life, so I'm just excited to be a sponge in the room and get around those guys and learn from them.
