The last few years, the front office has not lived up to its “best in the NFL” billing when it comes to personnel decisions, including the draft, free agency, and trades. They’re probably closer to the bottom than the top.
When I heard they were trading Brissett for Dorsett, I thought at the time it didn’t seem like a big deal. I didn’t know at the time the Colts viewed Brisett as their STARTING quarterback at the time (unbeknownst the Patriots?) while Dorsett may have been a bubble roster player. Then of course I expected a grand plan with Brady and Garoppolo, but it turned into a Christmas gift to the 49ers.
Does it matter how Brissett was viewed by the Colts versus the Patriots internal grade? A year earlier, the Eagles traded Sam Bradford to the Vikings for a FIRST AND FOURTH (FOURTH COULD BECOME A THIRD OR SECOND), though Bradford was already going to be a backup for Wentz, or at best a starter for a very short time. The Patriots were in a similar situation with the Colts, as the Colts desperately sought a starting QB due to an injury/injury recovery situation with no QB market. Even if Brissett doesn’t stack up to Sam Bradford (lol), their return was a draft bust who was likely to either get cut or see 2-3 snaps a game with the Colts?
Typically, even an average backup quarterback is traded for something like a 2nd or 3rd pick. For Garoppolo and Brissett, two starters, one widely viewed as a potential perennial pro bowl QB, the grand total return was a second round pick and Philip Dorsett. WTF? These were two badly misplayed hands. The Colts turned down a second round pick for Brissett, so his trade value is now a first. Garopollo’s trade value is probably 3 firsts (theoretically, though he’s more in the “untradeable category.”). One year later, the combined value it would take to trade to get Garoppolo and Brissett back: four first round picks. One year earlier the Patriots traded them away for a second round pick and Dorsett. Sure, you couldn’t get that value last year because they were less proven, but the Patriots had an up close view of both players. For the value gap to be that huge, there’s something very wrong.
Draft picks have been among the worst in the league since 2015.
Huge, overlooked gaffe is this offseason: they WANTED Michael Bennett and even offered the Seahawks more for him, but their bid someone came in too late?? That almost never happens. Was someone just asleep at the wheel? This isn’t something where they passed due to the value...it could almost be classified as a clerical error or lack of understanding of the timeframe. Ripple effect is no Michael Bennet and the subsequent retirement of Martellus Bennett, who probably would have restructured his contract to play with his brother for another year or two.
