The Patriots concluded the 2024 preseason on Sunday night, with both Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye seeing time under center. As a final decision on the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback is contemplated, the rookie’s performance this summer has made this a closer call than it seemed to be at the start of training camp. 
“This is a true competition, and I would say at this current point, Drake has outplayed Jacoby,” head coach Jerod Mayo said during a Monday appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show (h/t ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “Now in saying that, we have to take in the full body of work, going all the way back to the spring and beginning of training camp… It starts in practice and also in the game, where Drake has played better.
“There are multiple factors that have to go into this decision. One is the total body of work, whether we’re talking about the spring or the entirety of training camp. And I would also say, oftentimes we forget about the overall experience that a guy like Jacoby has, which will also be weighted in the decision we have to make in the near future.”
Selected third overall April’s draft – after the Patriots turned down trade offers from the Giants and Vikings – Maye has long been known to be the team’s long-term plan at quarterback. The North Carolina product was one of the younger passers in his draft class, though, and his underwhelming play in 2023 led many to label him a candidate for a developmental rookie season. With Brissett in place on a one-year deal, redshirting Maye is certainly an option for Mayo and Co. Veteran reporter Josina Anderson notes the 31-year-old is viewed as the better option to begin the season by some in the Patriots’ organization.
To little surprise, Brissett entered training camp atop the depth chart. His summer performances have not impressed, however, and Mayo’s confirmation that Maye has outplayed him comes after the first-time head coach publicly left the door open to a change in the pecking order. With three preseason contests to evaluate (along with practice showings), the fact that Maye has made up ground adds further intrigue to this situation.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix have already earned the QB1 title for their respective teams. Maye could become the fourth rookie to see the field in Week 1, and a decision should be made in the coming days on whether he or Brissett will get the nod. A cautions approach would still not come as a surprise, but Mayo’s sentiment points to Maye having a strong chance to secure the starting gig right away.
I don’t know if, while that opinion may be obvious to observers, it benefits Mayo at all to say that officially with announcing Maye as the starter. He left it open to name Brissett as the starter, but I don’t see how he can make that so and do it smoothly. People will come back to this comment if he does, and it will probably negatively affect both players if the coach says that one of them is playing better and yet the other is made the starter.
I just don’t see how it’s beneficial for the coach to say that out loud before announcing his decision. This appears to me to be one of those rookie learning moments for a head coach on Mayo’s part.
Love the Drake!
That O-line is going to make this Only Murders In The Building: Foxboro Edition.
If it’s at all close, Drake Maye should sit for at least a few regular season games, to watch and learn before he’s thrown into the fire. This is rushing development. Not a good idea.
If Jacoby Brissett gets wrecked out there, or loses his confidence due to a bad team around him, there’s little harm done (given that Brissett survived the Browns and the Commies, he’ll probably be okay).
I drafted Maye 8th overall in the rookie draft of one of my Reality Sports Online leagues. I have him on a four year contract and I’m in the start of a rebuild phase so I’m begging you Mayo….please, please, please do not play Maye and ruin him. Sit his ass for the year because I’m going to need this kid to be good in 2026 and beyond. Do the smart thing. Do the right thing. And above all else for the love of God….do the humane thing and save this kid from your horrendous O line.
Maybe trying to light fire under Brissett? If they think the kid can play n doesn’t need the baby wheels on offense then let em play. Would hesitate throwing unprepared QB to the wolves of full-speed NFL game action if u kno OL is porous or WR room lacks quality receivers. If kid lays a turd maybe Pats new FO is just bad @evaluating talent thinking he was ready. Or he plays decent n takes the job n runs w/it.