The Patriots are hoping they found their QB of the future in third-overall pick Drake Maye. However, after signing veteran Jacoby Brissett as a seat-warmer, the organization isn’t in any rush to throw their rookie quarterback into the fire. While speaking with reporters, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said there’s no specific timetable to elevate Drake into the QB1 role.
“I think you have to take that as it comes,” Van Pelt said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “There is no timetable. Jacoby, again, is our starter and he’s playing excellent football for us in the spring. And Drake is coming on. So until that changes, we’re going to stick with what we got.
“We always talk about earning your reps around here. So as he continues to grow and have successful practices and start stacking those, then we can think about moving him up the depth chart. It’s a process. It’s a marathon. We’re going to take our time and do it the right way.”
As the OC noted, there are still some skills that Maye has to develop before he can enter the starting lineup. While the rookie has quickly adapted to the team’s footwork requirements, he’s still a work in progress when it comes to “calling plays from the huddle.” While there is certainly enthusiasm for Maye’s inevitable ascension into the starting lineup, Van Pelt opines that this developmental time will only help the player’s long-term outlook.
“I think of it as a marathon over a sprint,” Van Pelt said. “You just don’t go out and run a marathon. You have to train properly for a marathon. It’s the same with a quarterback,” he said, when asked the key tenets of developing a rookie at the position.
“There’s a process. We follow that process. We trust that process. You can’t just stick a guy out there and expect him to be successful without the proper training. We’re making moves in the right direction.”
The coaching staff will naturally have a major say in Maye’s development, with Van Pelt and new head coach Jerod Mayo having significant influence over the decision. The OC revealed that the recently promoted Eliot Wolf, who is serving as New England’s executive vice president of player personnel, will also be involved with the decision.
Tom Terriffic didn’t start day1 as rookie. Maye was always gonna be a project, ironing out the wrinkles like his footwork. If he’s not ready, then he’s not ready, why throw em to wolves if u don’t have too, why u got Brissett.
Smart move to not start him immediately. Teams today are rushing their QBs in too quickly and undervaluing the bench year. I like to point out how the best QBs of recent history (Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes) did not start their first seasons. If Jordan Love continues his success, he could be another name to add to the list.
Mahomes did start one game in his rookie year, 2017/Week 17 when Kansas City had already clinched the AFC West. Brady got into his first NFL game in relief of an injured Drew Bledsoe.
Troy Aikman was 0-11 his first year. I think it is just as important to be patient when these young QBs do get their chance as well. The problem is that QBs like CJ Stroud come in and set the league on fire and win a playoff game. Remembering that Russell Wilson or CJ Stroud were joining rosters that were further along than the Patriot’s is the key to having patience. The media and fans need to be cool for a minute.
Jeez. You mean he didn’t win the job during OTA’s?
I’m pretty confident that Brissett will play himself out of the starting role rather quickly. The Pats host the Saints week 5 and New Orleans has always struggled in the 1pm road games. I think Maye could make his debut there. If Brissett actually manages to play better than a backup then we might see Maye debut after the Pats bye week. He’ll be starting at some point this season for sure.
As a Pats fan, I’d be happy to see Maye this year only in mop-up duty. I wouldn’t be opposed at all to a terrible record this year leading to a high dress pick next year.
I’m expecting the Pats to draft early next year whether Maye plays or not. The sportbooks have the win total for NE set at 4.5 (I’m going with the under).
Don’t play him this year. Get a top LT in the draft and solidify the Oline before starting him.
IMO, losing with a first-year QB learning on the bench is never a bad idea. If you think you have a shot, like with the Bears, sure. But for the teams projected to win 6 games, only winning 5 is probably a positive.
Maye will definitely not be better than Brissett in 2024. Maye will benefit from not having his confidence undermined like big QB Sam Darnold (third overall in 2018). It would be absolute stupidity to play Maye in 2024 except in the case of injury.