The New England Patriots’ win in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers has once again fueled speculation that Drake Maye will start this season. While the rookie, selected third in the first round, made little impression for external and internal reasons, Joe Milton, selected in the sixth round (193rd pick), delivered a great game. Of course, many now believe the team has a Robert Griffin III-Kirk Cousins-like situation on its hands. But not Chase Daniel.
The former Saints quarterback first posted a short video of Milton evading multiple defenders and turning the field, demonstrating his agility with a solid ground gain. Daniel also suggested in the caption that reports of Milton performing better than Maye may not have been biased after all.
However, after the game ended, Daniel seemed to have changed his mind and posted a 16-minute analysis of the quarterback’s plays on X (formerly Twitter). He also added a conclusion comparing the Maye-Milton situation to the Commanders’ Griffin III-Cousins situation from 2015:
“Joe Milton played really well. But is this a Kirk Cousins-RGIII situation? I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s enough evidence to support what Drake Maye captured on film.”
In his analysis, Daniel also highlighted that Maye came onto the field in wet conditions and completed three passes in one series. The former North Carolina quarterback essentially had limited options and faced a mix of first- and second-string defenders.
But the freshman still managed to stay on his feet, completing two of his three attempts and gaining 19 yards. When you consider all the factors, it doesn’t seem so bad.
Milton, on the other hand, spent a lot of time behind the line of scrimmage after entering the field near the end of the third quarter. While he wowed viewers and fans online, it’s worth noting that the Tennessee rookie faced only lower-tier defenders.
So there isn’t enough evidence for fans and pundits to determine a clear winner between the two. However, Milton has completed 4 of 6 passes for 54 yards and caught a 38-yard touchdown pass to JaQuae Jackson.
Did the New England Patriots miss an opportunity with Drake Maye?
Jacoby Brissett, who will likely be the Patriots’ starter this season, started the contest against the Panthers but, like Maye, only played one series. He was then replaced by Maye, who handed the ball off three times in his six snaps played.
In the remaining three snaps, he completed two easy throws – a screen pass to Antonio Gibson and a quick swing pass to Kevin Harris. However, his drop-back throw missed the target and went too high.
Not much, but the rookie was then replaced by Bailey Zappe, who was even booed by the crowd. It was obvious that they wanted more from Maye, who is highly expected to change the trajectory of the franchise in the post-Tom Brady era.
So should the Patriots have given Maye more playing time?
As head coach Jerod Mayo revealed, the team’s plan from the beginning was to let the quarterback play for only one series. In addition, the weather was not exactly favorable for the team.
However, it is important to note that Maye was primarily protected by lower-level offensive linemen, which may have increased his risk of injury.
In addition, as Mayo explained in the post-game press conference, there are two more preseason games that will give the former Tar Heels QB plenty of opportunity to cement his place on the roster. These games could very well determine whether he will be the second or third quarterback in the 2024 season.
