The New England Patriots' quarterback competition is still wide open. Head coach Jerod Mayo revealed during his media availability on Friday morning that the training camp battle between rookie Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett "isn't over" and that Maye could start Week 1 if he proves himself better than Brissett in the preseason.
#Patriots HC Jerod Mayo says "the competition isn't over" for the starting quarterback job in Week 1.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 16, 2024
Mayo said that Drake Maye has made strides, but he wants to see the whole operation be faster with Maye at QB.
The Patriots selected Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft with the intention of grooming him into their eventual franchise quarterback. Brissett signed with the Patriots earlier this offseason on a one-year, $8 million deal. He also has a long history with the team dating back to 2016 when the Patriots drafted him with the 91st overall pick.
Maye is clearly the Patriots' long-term future at quarterback, but his preseason hasn't exactly shown him to be a ready and undeniable talent. He relied heavily on short passes in last night's 14-13 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, finishing with an underwhelming 3.25 net yards per passing attempt on 12 dropbacks. He fared slightly better as a runner, totalling 15 yards and one touchdown on four attempts, but that's hardly game-breaking ability.
If outdoing Brissett is all it takes for Maye to earn the starting job, his chances are good. 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. He's also been abysmal so far this preseason, completing only three of 10 passes for 17 yards through two games. He also threw an agonizing red-zone interception against the Eagles last night.
Still, those offensive struggles may not be entirely either player's fault. Complicating the Patriots decision at quarterback is the current state of their supporting cast. They finished tied for last in points scored in 2023 with 13.9 per game and did little to radically improve their roster this offseason. The dearth of talent the Patriots are fielding at wide receiver could sabotage even the most accomplished quarterback.
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 stumbles, 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 Mac Jones' promising career, even if it means a losing season (and the contempt of their fans) in 2024.
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