As the preseason comes to a close and the regular season is just around the corner, the New England Patriots face a major decision: who will start at quarterback? Veteran Jacoby Brissett leaving the field with a shoulder injury during a game against the Commanders has sparked speculation about the future of the QB position at Gillette Stadium. With sensational rookie Drake Maye making a strong case for the starting position, head coach Jerod Mayo may soon have to make a difficult decision.
NFL insider Michael Lombardi shared his thoughts on the situation during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “If I were in New England, I would play Brissett,” Lombardi explained. “Their offensive line is in such a state of disarray and I don’t want to hinder the young rookie’s progress. Maye looks very good and has shown he has a future, but the preseason is a lot different than the regular season..”
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Lombardi’s cautious approach echoes the views of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who recently appeared on the same show. When asked about his thoughts on the quarterback situation, Belichick said: “I don’t think you really know how someone will play in the preseason, especially at the quarterback position. Most of those games are very easy, and I put more emphasis on what the players do in practice..”
Despite the veteran coach’s words, there’s no denying that Drake Maye was impressive in the preseason. With Brissett out, Maye took the reins against the Commanders and showed off his skills. In five first-half series, he completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards and added a touchdown to his stat sheet.
After his strong performance in the season finale, Maye expressed confidence in his readiness.”Yeah, I think I would feel ready,” he said. “I think I’m ready for whatever this football team asks of me and ready to go out there and try to help us beat the Bengals in Week 1.””
The Patriots’ coaching staff, including head coach Mayo, was impressed with the rookie’s attitude and potential. As a first-round draft pick…
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Jerod Mayo discusses Drake Mayo’s possible role in the new season
In his opening speech he talks about the competition between Jacoby Brissett and Maye, the Patriots coach Mayo added, “I’m not going to get too into whether Jacoby could play or not. What I will say is that this is a real competition.” However, Mayo also made it clear that several things need to be considered before handing over the role of starting quarterback.
“We have to process all the work, starting from spring until the start of training camp. And then we will see where we end up,” explained the Patriots coach. However, Mayo was quick to point out the recent positive aspects that could earn Maye the nod as starting quarterback in the new season. “It starts in training and also in the game, where Drake played better.”
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But to continue his dilemma regarding the starting QB spot, Mayo emphasizes the importance of Brissett, “We often forget the overall experience that a guy like Jacoby has, which will also play a role in the decision we have to make in the near future.” Right now, it looks like Brissett will be the one thrown in at the deep end before Maye can finally take over.
For now, however, the 21-year-old could continue his learning curve and wait for the opportunity that could come his way at any time during the season. With the battle for the QB1 starting to heat up, we can’t wait to see who gets the nod in Foxborough for the 2024 NFL season.
