The first two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft have already been announced as their teams’ starting quarterbacks. Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels have shown enough. But we are still waiting to hear if Drake Maye will be the New England Patriots’ starting QB.
To be fair, the Bears have done nothing to create a real contender at QB. Tyson Bagent, an undrafted second-year pro, is Chicago’s backup. In Washington, it’s Marcus Mariota, who did not play last year and even lost his starting spot in Atlanta in 2022.
Things are a little different in New England, where they have hired a legitimate backup in Jacoby Brissett, who also wasn’t a starter last year but performed well for Cleveland in 2022. Of the trio, only New England has a viable starter, meaning Maye will have to really fight to get the job. Now we may know what Jerod Mayo needs to name Maye the starter.
Related: The 10 worst rookies in the second week of the NFL preseason, including Joe Milton
Whether the job as starting quarterback of the New England Patriots will come up depends on Drake Maye
Typically, quarterbacks who are selected in the top five become starting quarterbacks at some point as rookies. Some earn the job sooner than others, while others are given the job without any other competitors coming forward or being on the roster.
Drake Maye put on an impressive performance in Week 2 of the preseason, showing off his arm talent and scoring a touchdown. Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett made a crucial mistake and threw an interception in the red zone. It was only one play, but Maye seemed better prepared to lead a productive offense than Brissett.
The Patriots, however, have not yet named a starting quarterback for Week 1, giving Maye the opportunity to snatch the job. But what else does he have to show the coaching staff? Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated may have just revealed the recipe.
“The New England Patriots’ plan was for Jacoby Brissett to at least start the season at quarterback and for Drake Maye to complete an apprenticeship that could result in a full redshirt year. In my opinion, two things could mess that up. One would be, of course, for Maye to show that he is not only the best option, but also that he is ready to play week in and week out as a starting quarterback without the rigors of the season affecting his development. There is a mental and also a mechanical component to that.
Second, if Brissett, who is beloved by his teammates and the perfect guy to help a younger quarterback, shows he can’t drive the offense more effectively and with better tempo than he has been. He made a brutal decision in the red zone against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the offense isn’t running as smoothly behind the two quarterbacks as one would like. Brissett is a veteran player, so expect him to come out of his rough patch of the last week or so. But the fact that this coincides with Maye’s steady progress starting to bear fruit makes things interesting at least. What the coaches really like about Maye’s current position was on display last Thursday against Philly, where he showed he’s calm and in control in the cockpit.”
SI’s Albert Breer on the New England Patriots’ QB competition
It’s only a matter of time before Maye earns a starting spot. That could happen in Week 1, or it could happen if Brissett struggles. The challenge for New England is not to make the move too early or too late if they want to be competitive this year.
On one hand, the Patriots can’t start Maye and then take him out when he struggles. That would only destroy their 21-year-old’s confidence. It makes more sense to give the job to Brissett and pull the plug when something goes wrong. But that only applies if Brissett is really better than Maye. But the Patriots can’t do the same by starting Maye and then switching to Brissett again and again because that won’t win over the team or build confidence. Ultimately, the Patriots have a difficult decision to make.
Related: See where Drake Maye lands in Sportsnauts NFL QB rankings
