The Patriots have a long list of players hitting free agency this offseason, a few of whom have been integral to their roster for the past several years. With a new regime calling the shots, it's difficult to say if any of them will be back for the 2025 season, but it's safe to say that at least one trusted veteran will be looking elsewhere, and that is quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
He was brought in as the Patriots starter since the plan was to keep rookie Drake Maye on the bench as long as possible, hoping he would benefit from learning the ways of the NFL from the sideline. But once it became clear that Brissett was struggling too much and bringing the Patriots back to mediocrity (if not worse), he was replaced by Maye in Week 6.
Regardless, he served the mentor role well during his lone return season to Foxboro and earned rave reviews from his teammates for his professionalism and support. That went a long way in helping Maye through his transition from college to the pros, making Brissett and invaluable part of the team.
Unfortunately, however, the latest predictions have him playing somewhere else in 2025. He still hopes to be a starter or, at the very least, a backup who will have more chances to get on the field. To make the prediction worse, he might go back to an AFC East team he's been apart of before.
The latest prediction surrounding NFL free agents has Jacoby Brissett heading back to Miami
In a new piece by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report surrounding the best and worst landing spots for quarterbacks who might change teams in 2025, Brissett is predicted to go back to the Dolphins and serve as a top-tier backup for Tua Tagovailoa.
While losing Brissett's veteran leadership is a big blow for the Patriots, especially for Maye, it's a bigger blow to watch him go to a divisional rival immediately after being with the team, even more so when that team is the Dolphins. They have been one of the more struggling teams over the past five years, like the Patriots, making them a more beatable foe as they hope to get back to relevancy.
That might become more difficult with Brissett back in the mix, regardless of a new coaching staff coming to New England.
"A few teams will likely target Brissett as a 2025 bridge option. However, the best move for him could involve a return to the Miami Dolphins. Miami desperately needs a capable and experienced backup behind Tua Tagovailoa, who has a notable history of injuries and concussions.
Tagovailoa's stint on injured reserve effectively sunk Miami's playoff chances in 2024. While Brissett can't replicate Tagovailoa's skill set, he could help Miami navigate a stretch without Tagovailoa better than it did with Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle."
Because he has been part of the organization before, and they clearly suffered during Tagovailoa's absence, it would make sense for the Dolphins to seriously consider bringing Brissett back into the fold. He's a great teammate and leader and would be ready to go in case disaster strikes again, so it would be a win/win for everyone except the Patriots.
It wouldn't be a complete disaster for them because of Josh McDaniels' return and Alex Van Pelt being out. But he does have firsthand knowledge of how Maye plays, which would inevitably help Miami's defense, and that is not great for any team. Having any sort of insider knowledge is great for the team receiving the intel and not for the team being told on.
We'll see what happens, as Brissett can land anywhere, but it seems safe to assume the Dolphins will be a real contender for him this offseason.