Since the start of spring training numerous Reporters and analysts have predicted that the New England Patriots would use veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett instead of rookie Drake Maye, primarily because Maye was viewed as a team still in development that would not be “ready” to face a real defense in an important game in September.
The situation has changed ahead of New England’s final preseason game against the Washington Commanders next Sunday.
“One hundred percent,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo replied when asked Wednesday if he would feel comfortable putting Maye in the starting lineup for the Week 1 game at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8, according to NESN’s Keagan Boots shared. “I think he’s ready to lead a group.”
Mayo was keen to add that there is still “competition” for the starting position and that Brissett is “still QB1.”
May According to reports showed a drastic improvement in the last few weeks before doing significantly better Brissett in last Thursday’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Patriots/NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noticed on Monday that the club was still questioning whether Maye “could handle being a starting quarterback week in and week out without the rigors of the season affecting his development.”
If that is no longer a problem for Mayo and Co., it is likely that Maye will be given the nod for the game against Cincinnati, unless he looks like he is in trouble in the face of a defense that is actually made up of second and third team players this weekend at Commanders Field.
“I think everyone can see Drake’s confidence growing and everyone can see Jacoby going out here and doing a good job overall,” Mayo added Wednesday.
Away Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sports Betting had the Patriots as underdogs with +900 odds to make the playoffs in 2024. Such projections are a reminder that New England is probably not one quarterback change away from competing for major titles between September and January 2025.
Patriots and NFL legend Tom Brady recently argues that teams should let future prospects – like Maye – develop as unused rookie backups. Nevertheless, It sounds like Mayo might be moving in a different direction sooner than some people think.
