New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo declared after the team’s third preseason game that Drake Maye was the team’s second-best quarterback. A day later, he said Maye had surpassed Jacoby Brissett. That seems to sum up the Patriots’ recent rumors regarding their upcoming starting quarterback decision.
Entering Patriots training camp in July, Brissett was the clear favorite to be the Patriots’ starting quarterback this season. New England took a developmental approach with Maye, letting the rookie watch from the sidelines in September as Brissett led the offense.
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This seemed to be the team’s plan even after the first preseason game, when Maye received very little playing time. However, that changed when the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft received more playing time in preseason, showing excellent skills and more composure than expected.
When Brissett left the final preseason game, Maye stepped up and played well. But while there were calls to name the rookie the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Week 1, Mayo said in his postgame press conference that Maye was the second-best quarterback on the Patriots’ roster. The next morning, the New England head coach praised the former North Carolina player and declined to name his starter.
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According to Josina Anderson, a veteran NFL insider, there is growing optimism in Foxborough about Maye’s performance this preseason. However, there are reportedly “some opinions” within the Patriots organization that it might be best for Brissett to be the Patriots’ starting quarterback at this point.
- Jacoby Brissett Preseason Stats (ESPN): 5 of 14, 36 passing yards, 2.6 yards per attempt, 14.6 QB rating, 0-1 TD-INT, 35.7% completion rate
The 31-year-old quarterback is dealing with a shoulder injury that forced him out of Sunday’s final preseason game, but there are currently no long-term concerns with the issue. With the Patriots’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals beginning on Sept. 8, Brissett should have plenty of time to recover.
- Drake Maye preseason stats (ESPN): 21 of 34, 192 passing yards, 5.6 yards per attempt, 86.9 QB rating, 1-0 TD-INT, 61.8% completion rate
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The most compelling argument for making Brissett the Patriots’ starting quarterback is that he has a veteran quarterback behind one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines in 2024. Still, he was outperformed by Maye in the preseason, and the best way to develop a young quarterback is to give him real game practice.
A decision on who will be the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Week 1 is imminent, with the official announcement expected in the next few days. Even if Brissett starts the regular season’s opening game, Maye will likely take over in October at the latest.
