The New England Patriots selected quarterback Drake Maye with the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots expected Maye to be the quarterback of the future in New England, but it looks like the future could begin as early as Week 1 of the 2024 regular season.
On Friday, after the Patriots’ second preseason game in which Maye shined, head coach Jerod Mayo was asked if Maye could be the starter in the first week of the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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“Do you see this as a competition right now between (Maye and Jacoby Brissett) as to who’s going to be the starting quarterback against Cincinnati?” Mayo was asked.
“I do,” Mayo said. “We have three days of training camp left and it’s our job as coaches to evaluate that. The competition isn’t over yet. They’re still going to go out there and have to show something not only to themselves and their coaches but to their teammates. So it’s definitely still a competition.”
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Maye has performed well in two preseason games for the Patriots. In Week 1, he completed 2 of 3 passes for 17 yards. In Friday’s Week 2 game, Maye played two quarters and completed 6 of 11 passes for 47 yards with four carries for 15 yards and his first career NFL touchdown, a four-yard run. Maye led the Patriots to two consecutive scoring drives in the second quarter.
Maye’s play has made the Patriots’ quarterback competition significantly more interesting. Entering the year, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Patriots in the offseason, was expected to open the season as the starter. Brissett was originally drafted by the Patriots in 2016 and spent one season there as a backup to Tom Brady before spending the next seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders.
Brissett has played in 79 games in his eight-year career and started 48 times. His record as a starter is 18-30, but he has an impressive 51 passing touchdowns against just 23 interceptions and another 15 rushing touchdowns.
Brissett struggled in Friday’s preseason game, completing 3 of 7 passes for 17 yards and an interception. If he struggles again in New England’s final preseason game next Sunday — or Maye shines once again — the Patriots could decide to make an early start on their future with Maye in Week 1 against the Bengals.
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