The Patriots’ first preseason game of 2024 is over, a 17-3 victory. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of bad news and ominous signs that come with it. NFL experts are disappointed with the Patriots, and for good reason. Their offense is still in development at best.
One view that is currently receiving widespread attention is the sorry state of the Patriots’ offensive line. The best that can be said about the tackle situation is that it is “offensive.” While this condition deserves much separate attention, it has dramatic implications for the entire offense and, in turn, the fate of the entire team.
This article will cover the only position more important than the O-Line: the quarterback position/unit. It will also cover rookie and third pick Drake Maye and his development, including his brief appearance against the Panthers.
So let us evaluate his performance anyway, limited as it was.
Maye played only two series and about six plays in the first preseason game. Not only did the Patriots disappoint paying customers at Gillette, but the decision drew the ire of Patriot Nation and the media in general. It sucked for a whole host of reasons.
Maye, whether anyone wants to admit it or not, is the Patriots’ best hope for a successful 2024 season, assuming they want to win. The other options are veteran backup Jacoby Brissett and Joe Milton, the Patriots’ sixth-round pick.
Milton has done well against the other losers, but bet on Maye being the long-term solution, no matter how much hype is made. After such a significant investment, Maye deserves to show what he can do with lots of reps. He doesn’t get much action at all with the first team, either in practice or in the first game. This is a big mistake by head coach Jerod Mayo.
Other than to justify the ridiculous $8 million spend on Brissett, a veteran backup quarterback, there is no reason to hold Maye back. The Boston media panned his poor play against Carolina. Here’s a Youtube example:
To further reinforce this statement, his performance in the brief cameo appearance further reinforced this point.
Drake Maye gets an A+ for his cameo appearance with the Panthers
Maye will likely get the most first-team action in practice and the rest of the preseason. Now let’s evaluate his performance against Carolina. As short as it was, it was great. Maye did everything that was expected and more.
He completed two screen passes perfectly and both of them gave him good gains, one for a first down and the other for solid yards. If it weren’t for some stupid penalties from his offensive line, he might have had a chance to run a full drive and maybe score.
He also threw a nice pass over the middle to Jalen Raegor. The pass was a little high, but a good receiver caught it for a nice gain and a first down. It should have been caught. There were three passes, each of them just right for Maye.
But it was his demeanor that was most impressive. Maye looked like a seasoned pro in his first steps on a real NFL field. He exuded a confidence that belied his 21 years, which was evident from the start, and his execution of the two screens was flawless.
Maye looked like a seasoned playmaker, unperturbed by the butterflies in his stomach that every young NFL rookie does in his first game. Even without his high draft status, his play against Carolina warranted an extended appearance. The Gillette crowd also shared their frustration with Mayo after he was subbed out for Bailey Zappe.
His performance deserves a high grade, an A+. He was solid in every way, shooting the ball and making plays like a veteran. But what impressed me most was his poise and presence on the field.
Drake Maye looked like an instant starter and future NFL star in his cameo against the Panthers. Add in his strong arm, ability to make every throw, and his running ability, and you have the makings of a quarterback who can win and win right now. Maye should get all the first-team action from here on out. There should be no question about that at all.
