The New England Patriots suffered some high-profile free agency losses this offseason, with starting-caliber players such as quarterback Tom Brady and linebacker Kyle Van Noy among those leaving the organization in free agency. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett does not fall in the same category, but he too decided to move on from the Patriots after his contract had expired: Dorsett signed a 1-year, $1.05 million contact with the Seattle Seahawks.
As the former first-round draft pick told Gregg Bell of The News Tribune, joining the Seahawks was a decision he should already have made one year earlier:
“I could have come (to Seattle) last year, but I chose to stay in New England,” he said.
“I didn’t want to make that mistake again.”
Dorsett also hit unrestricted free agency in 2019, but he eventually decided to return to the Patriots after winning his first Super Bowl ring with the club the previous season. He re-signed with the team on a one-year contract but ultimately had a disappointing season despite a promising start: he caught four passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener, but failed to build on his early-season momentum.
By the time the playoffs started, Dorsett was only serving as a rotational fourth option on New England’s wide receiver depth chart. He did finish with 29 catches for 397 yards and five touchdowns — his statistically best season since coming to New England in 2017 — but was unable to carve out a regular role within the offense before leaving to join Seattle.