Patriots quarterback Drake Maye didn’t show much in his professional debut on Thursday.
New England kept it short with the No. 3 pick, giving him a series that lasted six reps in total. It wasn’t that he did anything wrong or that there was a problem with the way he approached his first opportunity, the Patriots simply stuck to the plan.
“I’ve talked to (Alex Van Pelt), (Ben) McAdoo and the whole offensive staff about what the plan is for the quarterbacks,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Friday. “Those conversations have been going on for some time. It’s always been the plan to develop these guys that way.”
Maye completed 2 of 3 passes for 19 yards and picked up a first down before the team punted and he returned to the sideline. He didn’t make any deep throws. He didn’t make any “wow” plays. He didn’t get a chance to, but that could change next week.
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“I would also say he’s taking a lot of reps during practice,” “Eagles week is honestly a big week for everybody to practice against the Eagles and then we’ll see how the reps break down in the game. I expect Drake to take more reps than he did in the first game against the Eagles.”
The Patriots will face the Eagles twice next week, with a joint practice scheduled for Tuesday before they meet for an official friendly on Thursday. Maye is expected to get plenty of chances against Philadelphia, as the risk of injury behind a shaky offensive line is low thanks to the practical red jerseys.
Joe Milton III’s surprise debut will only frustrate Patriots fans further, but Maye’s development is more important than a few preseason highlights. It will take time, but it will come eventually.
