A midseason quarterback change has long been expected in New England, and it is now set to take place. The Patriots plan to start Drake Maye in Week 6, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. 
Veteran Jacoby Brissett got the nod at the start of the campaign, something which came as little surprise. The 31-year-old has experience working with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, and placing him atop the depth chart bought more time for Maye to develop. Brissett signed a one-year deal in free agency, though, positioning him as a bridge starter who would cede first-team duties at some point along the way. Maye saw mop-up duty the Pats’ blowout Week 3 loss, but this will mark his first full NFL action.
Once the Patriots moved on from Mac Jones, it was clear the draft route would be taken once again for a future franchise passer to be added. New England turned aside considerable trade interest in the No. 3 pick, using it to select Maye. The North Carolina product was seen as less pro-ready than a number of his draft classmates, but he has received 30% of the team’s starting reps during practice this season. That unusual setup further signaled a change would be coming soon, and the Patriots have lost four straight games. With momentum from their surprise Week 1 win not materializing, Brissett will be benched for at least the time being.
New England ranks 31st in the NFL with respect to both total and scoring offense. Improvement on the team’s 12.4 points per game average will be sought out, although questions linger (as they did before the year began) about issues along the offensive line and at the skill positions. Brissett has been sacked 17 times this season, and even Maye’s 16-snap appearance earlier in the year resulted in a pair of sacks. Injuries have been present up front, with starting center David Andrews out for the year and left tackle Caedan Wallace being placed on injured reserve. O-line struggles were a factor in Brissett remaining in place, but in spite of that it will now be Maye running the offense.
The 22-year-old had a down year in 2023 relative to his output during the previous campaign. His potential enticed the Patriots to add him in the team’s latest effort to land a true Tom Brady successor, however. Due to the fifth-year option, Maye could remain in place through 2028 depending on how he fares in a starting role. That process will begin in Week 6 against the Texans, a game in which expectations will be tempered. On a broader scale, how Maye performs over the coming months will represent the main storyline for himself personally and the team as a whole.
now it begins. As a BILLS fan I’m actually ready to see a non Belicheck QB selection play.
Too soon!
Well, well, well ……. I guess we will clearly see now that this was a quarterback problem after all. To all those Einsteins who have been clamoring for this, be careful what you ask for.
An unprepared rookie QB playing behind an atrocious o-line and no talent at the skill positions around him. What could possibly go wrong?
I really like Maye as a prospect, but this offensive line is too much of a mess to put him in a position to succeed. Great way to instill bad habits.
What better way to build character than getting destroyed by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson?
Terrible idea! He’s going to get killed.
Didn’t realize the Patriots magically upgraded their OL this week. Hard to play QB when running for your life
Dammit. Here comes David Carr 2.0
3.0 the Jets’ Zach Wilson was 2.0
The emergency channel will be receiving several Maye Day calls from Foxborough this weekend.
I don’t think it’s an ideal situation for him. He has, however, played on sub par teams at NC. I’ve been wrong about QBs before but I think Maye will end up being a real good quarterback. Rooting for him.
Please God just don’t let him get killed out there with no o-line.
Maye may have played at UNC, yet all CBS stations in North Carolina are scheduled to carry … Washington at Baltimore. Not Houston-New England.
This is what poverty franchises do. This is the blueprint for ruining a first round pick.
I feel like this is more of a desperation move, and not an intelligent long term move. The offense is floundering, and they really don’t have an identity as a team offensively. Maye will give them some hope but that OL is brutal, and even the ghost of Randy Moss/Dante Stallworth/Wes Welker wouldn’t be enough for Maye to overcome the lack of talent surrounding him.
I expect a 14/30 167 yards 1 TD 3 pick 4 sacks game coming up from Maye.