Drake Maye

AFC East Rumors: Van Pelt, Jets, Dolphins

January 15th, 2025 at 1:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both the Giants and Vikings submitted viable offers to the Patriots for the No. 3 overall pick last year, with each NFC franchise eyeing Drake Maye. Each would have netted the Pats an additional second-rounder in last year’s draft and a first this year. New York’s proposal would have given New England this year’s third overall choice, but Maye now serves as the Pats’ franchise centerpiece. Ultimately, then-acting GM Eliot Wolf and ownership stayed and picked Maye. Though, there appeared to be some supporters of accepting a trade-down offer. At the time, it is believed OC Alex Van Pelt was among those who viewed the Pats’ roster as too deficient to pass on moving down, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin notes.

While it may not be certain Mike Vrabel moves on from Van Pelt, the OC effectively confirmed this by telling friends he had been fired following the team’s Week 18 game. This came despite the organization being pleased with how he had helped develop Maye. Vrabel’s next play-caller’s chief assignment will be elevating Maye to another level in 2025.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

In December, Davante Adams was noncommittal about his Jets future. After all, the player responsible for him being traded to New York — Aaron Rodgers — appears on his way out. After the season, Adams did not confirm (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) he would be following Rodgers out the door, but he said staying with the team post-Rodgers would depend on a few factors. Adams’ Raiders-built contract runs through 2026. Allen Lazard was more enthusiastic about staying with the Jets. The lower-profile Rodgers come-with guy at receiver, Lazard went from being a healthy scratch at a point in 2023 to totaling 530 yards and six touchdowns this season. Lazard said (via Cimini) he wants to stay and later retire a Jet. Though, his four-year, $44MM contract would produce $11MM in savings if removed from the payroll via a post-June 1 release.
Calais Campbell said before season’s end he was not closing the door on playing an 18th NFL season, and the accomplished defensive lineman noted after the Dolphins‘ year wrapped (via ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) that he will consider an age-39 slate. Campbell notched five sacks, and his 12 tackles for loss were his most since 2018. The Dolphins had him on their books for just $2MM this season, and after they nearly traded him back to the Ravens at the deadline, it stands to reason the Miami alum will look into landing with a contender soon.
Elsewhere on the Dolphins’ roster, both Jaelan Phillips and Austin Jackson are expected to be fine for the 2025 opener, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets. Phillips, who suffered an Achilles tear in 2023 and a partially torn ACL this season, is going into his fifth-year option campaign. Jackson, who suffered a meniscus tear, is tied to a three-year, $36MM extension. Swing tackle Kendall Lamm is almost definitely set to depart in free agency, Jackson adds. The Dolphins’ Patrick Paul second-round draft choice had pointed the veteran elsewhere. That said, Grier said the Dolphins “are going to have to” invest in O-linemen this offseason. While the team has three higher-end tackle investments under contract, its interior situation is less solidified.
Staying with O-lines, Vrabel confirmed (via the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi) the Patriots‘ front will be a priority this offseason. This echoes a recent report that suggested OL and WR would be New England’s top target areas. The Pats struggled up front, with the loss of David Andrews and the left tackle carousel being among the issues. Vrabel leaned on the ground game in Tennessee, largely because of Derrick Henry‘s presence, but the Pats have by far the most cap space exiting the season. With questions existing just about everywhere outside of Michael Onwenu‘s presence (and even his position has fluctuated), allocating considerable resources up front seems likely as the Pats attempt to protect Maye.

Patriots Likely To Play Drake Maye In Week 18

January 1st, 2025 at 12:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 1: Maye said on Wednesday he is feeling good and expects to play (h/t ESPN’s Mike Reiss). Mayo repeated his stance that healthy starters will suit up for Week 18, so that should be expected in Maye’s case.

DECEMBER 30: One week remains in the Patriots’ season, a campaign which has witnessed a number of unwanted developments. With New England’s loss on Saturday and the Giants’ win yesterday, though, a silver lining could emerge in the form of the No. 1 pick in the draft.

[RELATED: Updated Draft Order]

Losing in the regular season finale against the Bills would lock up the top spot, meaning the Patriots will have a notable incentive to avoid a fourth win on the campaign. As a result, head coach Jerod Mayo was asked if resting starters – including quarterback Drake Maye – would be on the table. He replied that such a move is being considered at this point, although he later said injuries will be the only factor driving the decision to rest players next week.

“My expectation is if the guys are healthy, then they’re expected to be ready to go out there and play,” Mayo clarified (via Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal). “Again, we’ll have to see how the week goes.”

Mayo noted Maye is not currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol, but added that could change later today. In the event the No. 3 pick were to enter the protocol, he would be all-but assured of missing the season finale, something which would pave the way for veteran Jacoby Brissett to handle starting duties on Sunday. The pending free agent was replaced by Maye as New England’s starter midway through the campaign, a move which set him up to depart on the open market this spring.

Maye’s development will be a key determinant in the Patriots’ ability to return to contention, and adding high-end talent via the draft this spring will of course also be imperative. Holding the top pick would be significant if the team were to add its preferred prospect (with Heisman winner Travis Hunter likely being the target of the No. 1 selection) or entertain the possibility of trading down.

With the Bills being locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture, they could rest a number of starters on Sunday. That could help the Patriots’ chances of pulling off an upset win, although choosing to do the same with Maye and Co. would be a move understandably aimed at securing the top pick.

AFC East Notes: Reddick, Jets, Maye, Bills

October 30th, 2024 at 12:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Haason Reddick made his Jets debut last week, bringing an end to one of the longest holdouts in many years. Reddick pushed for a multiyear deal, believing the Jets reneged on their pledge to conduct true extension talks with him during the offseason. The Jets, however, had maintained they were not willing to discuss a long-term deal before their trade pickup began work in their defense. This led to a months-long standoff, being one of the contributing factors to the Jets’ 2-6 record. Reddick, who returned to the Jets after receiving an incentive-laden boost, played 26 defensive snaps as a backup in Week 8.

The Jets had made Reddick an offer to sweeten his 2024 compensation before the season started, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting the team’s proposal included $20MM for this year. The revised offer would have allowed the veteran edge rusher to recoup the fines he lost during training camp, though it is not known if this was a true raise from the $14.25MM salary he was due to make or another incentive package. Reddick, 30, turned that money down and continued to seek a trade. He has since regrouped with the Jets and will aim to secure solid terms as a 2025 free agent, but this holdout probably did not help him on that front.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

The Jets have until Tuesday to trade Mike Williams, and all signs are pointing to a separation. No move is expected to occur until after the Jets’ Thursday-night Texans matchup, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Gang Green has been linked to shopping Williams since even before the Davante Adams trade, and the effort began in earnest after the team acquired the ex-Aaron Rodgers Green Bay target. Williams, 30, has generated interest from the Steelers, Saints and Chargers and likely among other teams as well. The Jets falling to 2-7 would make them surefire sellers, but for now, they are waiting to see the market crystallize and holding onto the trade chip.
Before Jets interim HC Jeff Ulbrich stripped Nathaniel Hackett of play-calling duties, Robert Saleh had informed the second-generation Jets OC he would be demoted. Prior to the since-fired HC’s directive, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Hackett and Todd Downing had split game-planning responsibilities. They are continuing to do so, though it is now Downing who has final say on what goes in the game plan and what does not. The Jets are 0-3 with Downing calling plays, however, and remain in the same place they were (25th) in terms of scoring offense at the time Hackett was demoted.
As could be expected, the Jets are almost certain to pass on Ulbrich as the full-time HC if the team misses the playoffs, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt offers. Considering Ulbrich is 0-3 in the interim role, it would take a dramatic turnaround to convince the organization to not go with an outside hire — as every team but the Raiders has since 2017 — rather than remove their current leader’s interim tag.
David Edwards has bounced back from a concussion-marred 2022 and a 2023 season spent as a Bills backup. Stepping in as Buffalo’s starting left guard this season, as the team moved Connor McGovern to center after cutting Mitch Morse, Edwards has played well. The former Super Bowl LVI starter has outperformed McGovern at the LG spot, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, who adds Edwards could be moving toward an extension if he keeps this up. Pro Football Focus ranks Edwards just 44th among guards, but the 27-year-old blocker has started every game — after being a 17-game backup in 2023 — and has provided value on a two-year, $6MM deal.
Drake Maye is indeed in concussion protocol. Jerod Mayo confirmed that status Wednesday, making the No. 3 overall pick iffy for the Patriots‘ Sunday matchup against the Titans. A hit to the back of Maye’s head during a first-quarter scramble led Jacoby Brissett back into action in Week 8.

Patriots Notes: Belichick, Barmore, OL Changes, QB, Osborn

October 23rd, 2024 at 6:20pm CST by Ben Levine

When the Patriots parted ways with Bill Belichick following the 2023 campaign, the divorce was described as an “amicable” and “mutual” decision. However, during a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club podcast, owner Robert Kraft made it pretty clear that it was his decision to move on from the iconic head coach.

“I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft said (via Khari Thompson of The Boston Globe). “I didn’t enjoy having to fire him, but I tried to do it – if you look at the press conference and how it happened, tried to do it in a classy way.”

“What he did for us was great. People need to adapt. People need to adapt and if they don’t, things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust and I feel that our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted.”

Belichick generally drew much of the blame for the organization’s post-Tom Brady decline. The team didn’t bottom out right away; in fact, they won 10 games and made the postseason with a rookie Mac Jones during the 2021 campaign. However, following a 4-13 showing in 2023 (the team’s worst showing since 1992), Kraft decided to make Belichick the scapegoat and move on from the franchise stalwart.

With Belichick now hitting the media circuit, the former coach has generally been pretty reserved when discussing his former club. That changed this past week, when Belichick appeared on Jim Gray’s Let’s Go! podcast alongside Brady. The future Hall of Fame coach was especially critical of new head coach Jerod Mayo‘s assertion that his 1-6 squad was “soft,” and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald wonders if Belichick may be changing his tune following Kraft’s aforementioned quotes.

More notes out of New England…

After Christian Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots in July, the Patriots had been bracing for a potential full-season absence for the starting defensive lineman. Fortunately, there may be some good news on that front, with Mayo telling reporters that the former second-round pick was “progressing” in his recovery (via Kyed). Mayo even admitted that he’s changed his stance on Barmore’s 2024 availability, with the head coach stating that the DT could end up seeing the field at some point this season.
Michael Onwenu started the season as the Patriots right tackle but has seen an uptick in playing time at right guard in recent weeks. Offensive line coach Scott
Peters said he hopes the change is permanent, although the former sixth-round pick’s position will continue to be dependent on his teammates’ availability (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss). The team is bracing for another position change on their OL, as former first-round guard Cole Strange could see snaps at center when he’s activated from PUP (via Kyed). The lineman has missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from a knee injury.
While the Patriots always seemed to hint that Drake Maye would eventually take over for veteran seat warmer Jacoby Brissett, the staff hastily made the change ahead of the team’s Week 6 contest. Brissett told reporters that he wasn’t told of the team’s definitive 2024 plans at the position (via Kyed), although he did seem to hint that he knew he’d eventually hit the bench for his rookie teammate. Brissett tossed a pair of touchdowns in his five starts, while Maye has already found the end zone five times in two starts.
Mayo admitted to reporters that offseason acquisition K.J. Osborn was likely frustrated with his role in New England, per Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal. The former Vikings draft pick led the position in snaps for the first four weeks of the season, but after returning in Week 7 following a two-game absence, the veteran found himself behind all of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, and Ja’Lynn Polk (Osborn had two more snaps than fellow wideout Demario Douglas). In five games this season, Osborn has hauled in seven catches for 57 yards and one touchdown.

Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt Addresses Decision To Start Drake Maye

October 10th, 2024 at 5:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

It was long expected the Patriots would turn to Drake Maye as their starting quarterback at some point this season. The rookie will get his first regular season start in Week 6 as the team looks to rebound from an anticipated but underwhelming showing on offense so far.

Jacoby Brissett served as New England’s starter through the first five weeks of the campaign, operating offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt‘s scheme while Maye developed in practice. The latter handled a larger-than-usual workload with the first-team offense during the week, and New England’s coaching staff was impressed with his progress over time. With the Patriots failing to repeat the success of Week 1’s upset win, this week’s move came as little surprise.

“Offensively, we’re not where we want to be from a production standpoint, especially in the pass game,” Van Pelt said (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald). “I think that that leads to some of that decision, and also the fact that to see [Maye’s] growth and development over those weeks of practice and what he’s put on on the practice field, I think the two of those combined.”

Van Pelt added he was “on board” with head coach Jerod Mayo‘s decision to bench Brissett. The 31-year-old took a one-year deal in free agency to return to New England (and reunite with Van Pelt), but it was widely known his time atop the depth chart would be temporary. Brissett has yet to throw for 170 yards in a game this year, and he has accounted for only two touchdowns. The team’s low-scoring loss to the Dolphins in Week 5 represented another poor showing on offense, but that contest alone was not responsible for the QB change.

As could be expected, Brissett expressed disappointment with the decision to install Maye (h/t the Boston Globe’s Christopher Price). If the move winds up being permanent, Brissett will head to free agency in 2025 without having helped his market value to a large extent. As the Patriots continue to deal with offensive line issues, however, Maye might end up struggling with sacks as Brissett did during his time as starter. A reversal of this week’s change would not threaten the No. 3 pick’s long-term standing in the organization, but it would allow Brissett to offer a veteran presence in a season which does not feature high expectations.

QB Rumors: Rodgers, Colts, Maye, Williams

October 10th, 2024 at 11:14am CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Rodgers has now seen the offensive coordinator he has long backed, Nathaniel Hackett, stripped of play-calling duties. Interim Jets HC Jeff Ulbrich said Thursday the future Hall of Fame QB took his friend’s demotion in stride, calling Rodgers “supportive” of the choice, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. Ulbrich said he talked to Rodgers and Jets offensive and defensive players before making that call. Hackett had begun to lose support in the locker room, and Robert Saleh was on the verge of either firing him or going through with the demotion Ulbrich ultimately carried out.

As for Rodgers’ role in Saleh’s firing, the quarterback vehemently denied complicity. Calling accusations he played a role in Saleh’s ouster “patently false,” Rodgers confirmed during his Pat McAfee Show appearance Woody Johnson‘s account the two talked Monday night. Seeing as the owner fired Saleh the next morning, it is a somewhat difficult sell that this topic never came up during the QB-owner conversation. However, Rodgers said (via Cimini) he and the longtime Jets owner discussed his ankle injury. Rodgers has been battling a low ankle sprain, playing through the malady. Also calling Saleh one of the reasons he delayed retirement to play for the Jets, Rodgers will now move forward with Todd Downing calling the shots and Hackett in an unspecified role.

Here is the latest from the QB ranks:

Giving Drake Maye first-team reps in training camp and during the season, the Patriots have now moved the No. 3 overall pick into the lineup. This comes after Jacoby Brissett has struggled in his season back in New England. The bridge quarterback ranks 28th in QBR but is playing with a bottom-end skill-position group and behind an O-line featuring key injuries. Still, the pivot to Maye — earlier than some anticipated — does not come as a knee-jerk reaction to Brissett’s performance against the Dolphins, the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed notes. OC Alex Van Pelt had also said the team delaying Maye’s debut also had nothing to do with the current O-line composition. This Pats ramp-up period will be tested in Week 6, as Maye takes over against a 4-1 Texans team.
Anthony Richardson did not qualify as a game-time decision last week, per ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder, who indicates the second-year Colts QB was unable to move on the level he normally can. That led to Indianapolis downgrading its starter to doubtful the day before its Week 5 game. Optimism exists, based on “significant improvement” in his oblique rehab Richardson can go in Week 6. Richardson getting in a limited practice represents a good sign for his availability Sunday, though eyes will be on this situation after Joe Flacco proved more capable of moving the offense after early-season Richardson accuracy issues.
Concerns about Carl Williams’ involvement in his son Caleb‘s career have followed the former Heisman-winning passer, but the Bears received a positive report from now-Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury as they prepared for the draft. In discussing Caleb with Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus pre-draft, the recent USC QBs coach said he only saw Carl once at the Trojans’ practice facility, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, illustrating a more hands-off approach — at least, compared to public perception — from the prized prospect’s father. Carl Williams had made comments about his son having “two bites at the apple” regarding the NFL, inviting speculation the QB could return to school if he did not view the team with the No. 1 overall pick as a good fit. Caleb’s camp then tried to secure a no-franchise tag clause in his rookie deal — an unprecedented play the Bears shot down — and angled to be paid as an LLC for tax purposes. This invites some potential long-term issues for the Bears, but for now, the top pick’s development is their lone focus.

Patriots To Start Drake Maye In Week 6

October 8th, 2024 at 9:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

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.

AFC East Notes: Rodgers, Saleh, Pats, Bills

October 4th, 2024 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Rodgers‘ first season as a healthy quarterback, for all intents and purposes, under Robert Saleh has not started off on a smooth track. The incident in which the future Hall of Fame quarterback appeared to push the fourth-year Jets HC away following a Week 3 touchdown preceded a sequence in which Saleh’s views on the team’s Week 4 false-start penalties did not align with Rodgers’. Saleh entered the season on probably the AFC’s hottest seat, and Rodgers’ return represented the only reason ownership left the current power structure in play. So far, Rodgers is downplaying a rift exists.

“I think there’s some driving force to try and put a wedge [from] outside the facility between Robert and I,” Rodgers said, via the New York Post’s Brian Costello. “But, you know, we’re really good friends. We enjoy each other and we spend time [together]. Almost every day, I’m in his office talking about things and talking about the energy of the team, the focus of the team, what we need to get done, how I can help him out, how he can help me out. So we’ve got a great relationship.”

Rumblings about Rodgers-Saleh friction trace back to the embattled New York HC fining the QB for his trip to Egypt, which occurred during Gang Green’s minicamp. How not fining Rodgers would look to the locker room was at the root of that minor penalty, but the instances of perceived friction between coach and player are piling up. Rodgers’ denial probably will not do too much to cool down this plot, especially as the Jets struggle for consistency.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

Jerod Mayo warned of consequences for Rhamondre Stevenson, who has fumbled in each game this season. The recently extended Patriots back has received both public and private warnings about his RB1 status if this fumbling persists. “That’s definitely under consideration,” Mayo said of a demotion. “I’ve had multiple conversations with Rhamondre. But look, we can’t preach that ball security is job security and still have him out there the majority of the time.” Bill Belichick‘s leash was memorably shorter for fumble-prone RBs, but Mayo’s patience is now running thin. The 1-3 Pats gave Stevenson a four-year, $38MM extension this offseason, with $17.12MM fully guaranteed.
Mayo cited the Patriots’ offensive line issues when discussing Drake Maye‘s limited participation to open the preseason, and the team has suffered additional blows up front since. Starting four left tackles in four games, the Pats have missed guard starter Sidy Sow for part of this season and been without Cole Strange throughout. They have since placed third-round rookie Caedan Wallace on IR and are set to play without 10th-year center David Andrews the rest of the way. Pushing back on the notion New England’s O-line issues factor into why Maye is still behind Jacoby Brissett, OC Alex Van Pelt said (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) that is not part of the team’s consideration. Maye began seeing first-team practice reps early this season, but the team is starting Brissett for a fifth game. The No. 3 overall pick almost definitely will play this season, though the Pats do not exactly have a good situation for a rookie QB.
Von Miller likely received his four-game suspension for the arrest on a charge of assaulting a pregnant person, despite the Bills edge rusher and his girlfriend — the alleged victim — denying any crime occurred. That said, The Athletic’s Tim Graham notes the Bills are not entirely sure why Miller was suspended. The team received word a suspension was coming days before it was official, Sean McDermott said. (via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg). Nearly two years removed from his second ACL tear, Miller (three sacks) is playing much better than he did last year. The subject of a suspension voiding guarantees is now moot, as Miller’s 2024 salary is locked in (as a vested veteran); no guarantees remain for 2025 or 2026.
Kyle Dugger sustained an ankle injury, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the recently extended Patriots safety avoided a major issue. Dugger still could miss time for a reeling Pats team, though an IR stint may not be necessary.

Patriots Encouraged By Drake Maye’s Development; No Timeline For QB Change

September 27th, 2024 at 10:51am CST by Adam La Rose

Jacoby Brissett remains atop the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart for the time being. It has long been assumed Drake Maye will take over the starting gig at some point in 2024, though, and the first-round rookie continues to draw praise.

New England has been “very encouraged” by Maye’s progress so far, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston writes. This year’s No. 3 pick had a strong showing in training camp and the preseason to the point that head coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged the team had a true QB competition. It came as no surprise that Brissett got the nod to begin the campaign, though. The veteran inked a one-year deal in free agency to serve as the Patriots’ bridge starter, and Perry notes there is no firm timeline for a quarterback swap.

Through three weeks, Brissett and the team’s offense have been unable to post notable scoring totals. New England sits 31st in the NFL with an average of just 13 points per game, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes Brissett entered the year with the expectation he would need to keep leading the team to wins to hold onto his starting gig. The Patriots pulled off an upset win against the Bengals in Week 1, but that was followed up by an overtime loss to the Seahawks and a blowout defeat at the hand of the Jets. New England will play San Francisco on Sunday in a bid to avoid dropping to 1-3, something which would no doubt lead to increased calls for Maye to take over.

The North Carolina product made his regular season debut late in Week 3, and he has notably taken a 30% share of first-team reps during practice. With that routine set to continue, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated confirms Maye is still expected to handle a starting role sometime during the 2024 campaign (video link). It would come as no surprise if he were to overtake Brissett on the depth chart given his status as the Patriots’ quarterback of the future and his impressive practice outings. Questions have, on the other hand, been raised about the team’s offensive line, a unit which has remained especially uncertain at the left tackle spot; and while Mark Daniels of MassLive.com echoes Perry’s report that the Pats have been quite pleased by Maye’s work, they still believe in allowing a young passer “maturate” before deploying him in game action.

In spite of that, Maye has long been positioned to ascend to the QB1 spot in relatively short order, falling in line with standard practice regarding rookie passers around the league. Plenty will depend on how Brissett fares over the coming games, of course, but his grip on the starting spot may loosen if Maye continues to impress the team with the opportunities he is given. New England will not be on the bye until Week 14, and it will be interesting to see if a change is made before that point.

QB Jacoby Brissett To Remain Patriots’ Starter

September 20th, 2024 at 11:04am CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday night saw both Patriots quarterbacks struggle. Drake Maye finished the lopsided loss, but Jacoby Brissett was in place for much of the game. New England will stick with the veteran moving forward.

“Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he’s not the quarterback,” head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed during a Friday press conference (video link). “I thought last night, he showed a lot of toughness, a lot of grit. On protection breakdowns, tried to do what we asked him to do. But I would say, just as a team, as a coaching staff, we’ve just got to be better.”

The Patriots managed just 139 yards of offense, scoring three points. Brissett completed 12 of 18 pass attempts, but he totaled only 98 yards while taking five sacks. Maye logged 16 snaps in relief, but he took a pair of sacks and completed half of his eight passes. In the wake of a struggle along the offensive line in particular, it comes as no surprise Brissett will remain atop the depth chart for now.

Mayo did add, however, that the team’s practice rep allocation will remain the same moving forward. As a result, Maye will continue to take roughly 30% of the snaps with the first-team offense. As Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted prior to yesterday’s game, the first-round rookie has shared reps with both the first-team unit and the scout team in addition to side work with quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney (video link). Maye’s development is a key priority for the 2024 season, and the No. 3 pick drew praise from Mayo for his training camp and preseason showings before a final decision on the team’s starting quarterback was made.

Brissett got the nod for the QB1 spot to start the year, but the expectation has remained that Maye will take over at some point during the campaign. Patience while the team’s offensive line and skill position corps develops is a sensible approach for the Patriots, though, and Brissett is a familiar passer to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Hired after a strong push was made to bring Nick Caley back into the organization under the OC title, Van Pelt will be counted on as a key figure in Maye’s acclimation to the NFL. That process will continue to take place in a backup capacity for the time being.

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