The Patriots have landed on a starting quarterback with one week remaining until the start of the regular season. Jacoby Brissett will get the nod for Week 1, head coach Jerod Mayo announced on Thursday. 
“I have decided Jacoby Brissett will be our starting quarterback this season,” the first-year head coach said when confirming the decision (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “As an organization, we’re 100% behind Jacoby.”
The 31-year-old returned to New England this offseason on a one-year, $8MM contract in free agency. That pact gave the team a veteran capable of serving as a bridge starter, but after trading away Mac Jones it was clear the Patriots would draft a quarterback in April. Turning aside considerable trade interest for the No. 3 pick, the team remained in place and selected Drake Maye. The North Carolina product will begin his NFL career as a backup given today’s news.
To no surprise, Brissett entered training camp atop the depth chart with Maye acclimating to the pro level in general and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt‘s scheme in particular. His success in doing so allowed him to surpass Bailey Zappe as the team’s backup, and continued development over the course of the summer created a genuine competition for the QB1 gig. Mayo noted on multiple occasions during the preseason that Maye closed the gap on Brissett, and he acknowledged earlier this week that the rookie had been the team’s better performer during their exhibition contests. Brissett’s experience will see him take the reins for at least the beginning of the campaign, though.
Jones had an encouraging rookie season, but his play dropped off significantly over the past two seasons. Dealing him to the Jaguars allowed for a fresh start for the former first-rounder, but he left the Patriots in need of a new long-term investment at the position. Maye had a more impressive 2022 campaign than he did last year, but his age and upside could allow him to serve as a starter for the long term. As is the case with many rookies, of course, Maye could still find himself in the lineup midway through his first season.
“I think it’s important to remember, what’s good for the team today may not be good for the team weeks down the line,’ Mayo added. “I think the challenge is you want to win every single game now, but also you’re trying to build something special. So to me, that was a challenge.”
On the books through at least 2027 (with the potential for another season via the fifth-year option), Maye will have plenty of opportunities to cement himself as New England’s starter. For the time being, however, the Patriots’ offense – a unit which has seen a number of new arrivals in the pass-catching corps and faces questions up front – will be led by Brissett. The veteran’s free agent stock will be determined by his play when on the field and how long into the 2024 season he will be able to maintain his place atop the depth chart.
Thank goodness. No reason to throw Maye behind that horrific O line and developmental WR room just yet. Let him learn, see how the pro’s prepare etc.
Smart move.
In NY that would be known as the Daniel Jones treatment.
Jacoby has made a fortune starting for bad teams and good for him!
I doubt he feels he’s being paid a fortune. He has a better career passer rating than the Jags “savior” but nobody is offering him $55MM per season.
10’s of Millions over the years bud. That’s what you’d call a fortune
This is the type of thing Bill would never do. Publicly tell the media Maye has “Outplayed” Jacoby, then announce Jacoby as the starter. That’s one way to rally a team behind a QB.
Mayo is a puppet
For who?
The Kraft’s
@National Fixed League.. Maybe the puppet has Mayo inside of it?
That’s not true at all. A few weeks ago on Pat McAffee talking about the situation he said once you go with Maye you have to stick with him for good. There is no benching him in 4 or 5 weeks if you want him to succeed. By going with Brissett first if Brissett struggles and Maye gets to the point you are ready to go with him and stick with him you can make the switch. That was what he argued.
I know that. I’m saying don’t tell the media Maye has outplayed Jacoby, then start Jacoby. It’s undermining to Jacoby and a problem caused only by talking.
What’s wrong with speaking the truth aka telling it like it is? The team has a bad O-line and a “developing” receiving Corp. So with that in mind, it makes PERFECT SENSE to start the veteran over the rookie to start the season.
How does that give your starter incentive to play well, in that situation? How does it give any of the team members any incentive to, either, if you say that the guy who played better won’t be starting? This is the right decision to protect Maye, but saying that Maye outplayed Jacoby but lost the job was the wrong one.
Proven veteran NFL EXPERIENCE is worth more than a rookie “outperforming” the said veteran during the preseason. This is especially true when you take account the other factors that are in play at the time.
It’s just a distraction caused by self, unprovoked.
I agree, but you don’t say that one guy played better but lost the job. It just sets a bad precedent for your team. Everyone knows the real reason, but acknowledging it out loud makes your team look like it doesn’t value merit.
(This isn’t directed at you, Sam)
It’s just a distraction caused by self, unprovoked.
First sensible decision out of New England. We were looking at Sam Darnold 2.0. Maye is the backup. If Brissett is injured, then Maye plays. Otherwise Maye should sit and learn.
Backups often get a game or three these days so Maye shouldn’t plan on lounging on the bench all season. If Maye wants to be ready for next season, he better be paying attention this season.
I honestly would rather they sign Zappe back off a practice squad or even bring in a veteran free agent if Jacoby goes down. I don’t want Maye taking a snap behind this line all season unless he’s on the practice field.
This is great for Jacoby! Should give him plenty of time to add wheelchair ramps to his house.
You know. This won’t be a popular take overall to give Jacoby the job. But since you don’t want to go back and forth with a rookie it is a better idea to let him sit first rather than let him fail and sit second. 4 games in Maye might get his chance and take off. But it is less likely with this team being pretty young overall that they succeed much in the first few games. This gives the team a chance to evaluate his WRs before Maye has game film of himself
Lol this franchise should just be named the Tom Brady’s he carried this franchise for 20 years. Otherwise they define poverty franchise.
Patriots need a break to give the rest of the league a chance to catch up
Lol, nah. Patriots are a laughing stock who stumbled into the luckiest draft pick of all time. Without TB12 they legit define poverty franchise.
BB the GOAT drafted TB the GOAT. Fax…
How has Belicheck done before and after Tom BRady……thats what I thought
He went to the playoffs a few times sans Brady.
How many rings does Andy Reid have without Kermit?
How many rings does Walsh have without Montana?
And on and on…
Your jealousy is seething through every pore…it’s hilarious.
Hahahah way to defer my question with an irrelevant comment
Hmmmmm
And this is the reason why the Patriots will finish dead last in the division
Its hilarious people saying Maye can learn from Brissett……Learn what? How to be a crappy QB?
He’d be wise to learn some ducking techniques if he ends up playing behind that line this year.
This ids the right call, at least until the roster improves. Besides, the Pats could do worse than Brissett as a spot starter.
Why does he have to learn from Brissett? He can learn from the quarterbacks coach and from watching the game and participating in the offensive planning. Watching the opposing QB play, when it’s a good one.
Humans are like apes, we learn by watching and imitating.
Let Brisket get killed via his terrible Oline. Maye can play later on.