The Patriots’ quarterback depth chart had Jacoby Brissett at the top when training camp began. That was hardly surprising given the focus on slowly developing Drake Maye, the third-round choice.
But head coach Jerod Mayo made it plain that if the latter had a great camp and preseason, he was still eligible to start in Week 1. Having completed two of the team’s three exhibition games, Maye has proven himself worthy of consideration. Mayo’s most recent remarks on the subject confirm that no choice has been made as of yet for the starting passer.
In Week 1 of the preseason, Maye only played one series; but, against the Eagles last night, that amount quadrupled. The former UNC player completed 6 of 11 pass attempts for 47 yards and one touchdown on the ground. That was an improvement over his meagre output (and opportunities) from the previous week, although Brissett hasn’t yet filled the stat sheet while playing. In preseason action, the 31-year-old has completed a combined 3-for-10 pass for 17 scoreless yards and one interception.
In free agency, Brissett agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract to rejoin the Patriots as a bridge starter. In his three seasons with the Colts, Browns, and Dolphins, in addition to his previous assignment in New England, he has 48 starts under his belt.After the team turned down considerable interest for the third overall pick and used it on Maye, though, it was clear he represented the passer of the future, and potentially present, pending his ability to acclimate to the NFL level this offseason.
Both signal-callers will participate in the New England preseason finale on August 25, according to Mayo. After that competition, a final judgement will probably be reached after taking into account Brissett and Maye’s respective performances. Maye might soon join Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and (probably) Bo Nix in that regard as they get ready for their Week 1 starting roles as first-round rookies. In an effort to postpone Maye’s debut, it will be intriguing to watch how Brissett performs throughout the last practices of training camp and the forthcoming exhibition game.
