The New England Patriots have made a crucial decision regarding their quarterback position. Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start the season, while 2024 No. 3 overall draft pick Drake Maye will wait in the wings. This decision may seem surprising to some, given the hype surrounding Maye, but it’s a wise move for the franchise’s rebuild.

Brissett’s experience and familiarity with the system give him an edge over Maye, who is still learning the playbook and adapting to the NFL. Brissett has started 48 professional games and has 39 games of college experience under his belt, whereas Maye played in 30 college games. The veteran quarterback also has a deeper understanding of defensive coverages and can manipulate cadence and snap count, skills that Maye will develop with time.

Head coach Jerod Mayo emphasized that the decision was based on multiple factors, including the need to think about both short-term and long-term goals. “As an organization, we feel like Jacoby gives us our best chance to win right now,” Mayo said. The coaching staff and front office are unanimous in their support for Brissett, citing his ability to handle the complexities of the game and his processing speed.

Maye, on the other hand, is still learning and growing. While he has shown progress in practice, he needs more time to develop. The Patriots don’t want to rush him into action and risk exposing him to unnecessary hits and mistakes. As Mayo put it, “You don’t want to put a guy out there when he doesn’t know exactly how to protect himself from certain looks.”

The upcoming games against the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers will be a litmus test for Brissett and the Patriots’ offense. If Brissett performs well and the team wins, it’s likely he’ll remain the starter. However, if Maye continues to impress in practice and shows he’s ready for prime time, he could supplant Brissett as the starter.

Mayo emphasized the importance of competition and urged Maye to keep pushing himself. “If he beats Jacoby out, I mean, there’s nothing else really to be said — and hopefully he continues to get better,” Mayo said. The Patriots are taking a patient approach with Maye, recognizing that his development is a long-term process.

Maye is on right trajectory even if he isn’t there yet

The Patriots’ decision to start Brissett is not just about the quarterback’s skills; it’s also about the team’s overall performance. The offensive line’s ability to protect Brissett and create opportunities for the offense will play a significant role in determining the quarterback’s job security.

Maye’s development will continue to be monitored, and he’ll get more practice snaps with the first-team line and skill players. His progress has been steady, and he’s shown flashes of brilliance in training camp practices. Against lower-level competition, Maye outplayed Brissett in preseason games, Mayo admitted.

The Patriots are taking a patient approach with Maye, recognizing that his development is a long-term process. As Mayo put it, “It just starts in practice and also in the game where Drake has played better.” The battle between Brissett and Maye will continue, and it’s only a matter of time before Maye gets his chance to start.

The question is no longer if Maye will start but when. Mayo expressed confidence in Maye’s abilities, saying, “The guys on offense and defense are starting to really have that confidence in a guy like Drake, knowing that he’s doing some things that we haven’t had in a long time.”