NFL Trade Rumors: New England Patriots Quarterback Jacoby Brissett Expected to Start Week 1

The New England Patriots have a clubhouse leader to start in the regular season opener. According to the Athletic's Chad Graff, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett is expected to take the field in Week 1 over rookie Drake Maye.

Jacoby Brissett is set to begin training camp as the Patriots’ starting quarterback — even with No. 3 pick Drake Maye aiming to unseat him.

How did we get here? And how could Brissett lose the starting job?@ChadGraff analyzes: https://t.co/aDFDqIcq2N pic.twitter.com/Ydy6ItitWv
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) June 24, 2024

Brissett has reportedly dominated first-team reps all throughout the offseason, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has even referred to Brissett as the starter. Graff posits that Maye has significant distance to make up in training camp to have any chance to earn starting duties for Week 1.

Brissett signed with the Patriots earlier this offseason on a one-year, $8 million deal but has a long history with the team dating back to 2016 when the Patriots drafted him with the 91st overall pick. Still, he's hardly an inspiring starting quarterback. In his eight seasons as a backup and occasional starter, Brissett has compiled an 18-30 record across five different teams with 5.64 net yards per passing attempt.

Brissett taking the field in Week 1 would surely disappoint Patriots fans after the team drafted Maye third overall in this year's draft. Still, there's a case to be made the Patriots currently lack the infrastructure to support a young quarterback: They finished tied for last in points scored in 2023 with 13.9 per game due in large part to a subpar supporting cast that sabotaged third-year quarterback Mac Jones.

If the Patriots offense remains unsalvagable, Maye could be better off staying on the bench as long as possible. Unfortunately, the Patriots can't protect Maye forever. If Brissett struggles, calls to start Maye will grow deafening, and he'll be tasked with overcoming a deeply flawed roster. The Patriots have to be very, very careful to avoid the same mistakes that undid Jones' promising career, even if it means a losing season (and the contempt of their fans) in 2024.