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The New England Patriots’ plan for Drake Maye and other quarterbacks in the first week of preparation has confused many observers.
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The New England Patriots’ plan at quarterback during their 2024 NFL preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, August 8, was not clear to everyone. In fact, more than one observer was downright baffled by how the Patriots allocated the wagers at the most important position in football, especially in relation to incumbent Bailey Zappe and potential franchise QB Drake Maye.
The Patriots gave Maye, the third pick in this year’s draft, just one series, while Zappe, who would be a logical candidate for a trade, got plenty of playing time in the 17-3 win at Gillette Stadium.
This strategy left Chad Graff of The Athletic searching for answers:
Graff’s confusion stemmed from the Patriots wasting a prime opportunity to give their prized rookie valuable playing time: “If you’re convinced Jacoby Brissett is going to be the starter, don’t you want Maye to get as many plays as possible right now?”
In contrast, Zappe’s extended playing time struck a strange chord, especially since he seems like the odd man out in a lineup led by veteran starter Jacoby Brissett and also featuring Maye and fellow rookie Joe Milton III.
Tom E. Curran, a Boston Patriots insider for NBC Sports, put it this way: “I just don’t see the benefit of playing replays this early for a quarterback who probably won’t make the team. It feels like a missed opportunity.”
The plan was odd, but a repeat seems unlikely after Milton’s late impact. Not to mention the obvious need to increase Maye’s attention during the remaining Test matches.
Drake Maye needs playing time
A steady approach to Maye’s development runs the risk of being too cautious. The Pats have already decided that Brissett will take the reins once the big games start, and Maye will likely have to wait at least six weeks before taking over.
It will take time to refine Maye’s game for the pros, says Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated: “Maye is still working on the fundamentals from the ground up. For example, he was almost exclusively a shotgun quarterback, so he had almost no traditional footwork training before this spring. Correcting that will take some time.”
While it’s a process, Maye has a better chance of getting up to speed faster the more he plays this month. Physical mechanics and the mental ability to process reads make up Maye’s checklist for getting better this season.
Fortunately, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky saw some “significant improvements” in Maye’s foot placement and timing compared to his college video from North Carolina.
A new regime has bet that Maye will be the right one in the end. The transition will be easier if Zappe isn’t in the way.
Bailey Zappe on Borrowed Time
Even after his long guest appearance against the Panthers, Zappe remains an obvious trade object. Especially in light of Milton’s good performance.
This year’s sixth-round pick generated plenty of excitement with his natural ability as a dual-threat player, like when Milton showed off his evasive skills before going on that long run.
Milton has the mobility and incredible arm strength to secure the third QB spot, while Zappe has starter experience, but the 25-year-old also represents the decline of the position during Bill Belichick’s final years at the helm.
Jerod Mayo has replaced Belichick, and the new head coach’s rebuilding requires new impetus at the playmaker position. The new chapter should mean more Maye and Milton, but less Zappe.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world football since 2011 and has worked for FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
