Julian Edelman agrees with the decision to put Brissett ahead of Drake Maye
Former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman explains why New England made the smart decision to start quarterback Jacoby Brissett rather than No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye.
Sport in Seriousness
The New England Patriots will compete on Thursday Night Football in Week 3. The Patriots take a 1-1 series lead into their game against the New York Jets, but some Patriots fans may be wondering when Drake Maye will play.
The Patriots signed Drake Maye as their third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the rookie playmaker began the season as a backup to nine-year veteran Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett led New England to a huge upset win on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. The season opener with a win may have dampened the appetite of Patriots fans, but new head coach Jerod Mayo faces the difficult task of deciding when Maye will make his NFL debut.
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The Patriots suffered an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. If the losses continue, the pressure will increase on the coaches to let their new franchise quarterback play.
Fans will find it frustrating if the offense struggles to score points while the No. 3 pick is on the bench. New England scored 16 points in Week 1 and 20 in Week 2. Still, the decision to bench Maye to encourage his development took months to make.
Here’s what you should know about the current position of the No. 3 pick on the bench:
Why isn’t Drake Maye starting?
Although he has not yet been promoted to starter, New England appears to have a plan to slowly ease Maye into the role of starting quarterback.
According to head coach Jerod Mayo, the organization is giving Maye an unusually high number of practices with the first team on offense. He acknowledged that there is a delicate balance between Brissett’s preparation for game week and Maye’s preparation for his career.
“Typically, a starter gets, let’s say, 95 percent of the reps and the backup doesn’t. In this case, it’s a little different,” Mayo told reporters before Week 2. “And we talked about it, and I think the issue is how do you prepare the starting quarterback for the game while also developing the guy in the background, which is Drake.”
“So it’s a 70/30 split. You’re absolutely right. We’re thinking hard and have a development plan for Drake,” head coach Jerod Mayo said before the Patriots’ Week 2 game.
In recent years, a number of rookie quarterbacks have started in Week 1. Other first-rounders Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix have already started this season. However, every situation in the NFL is unique. New England recognizes that Maye’s potential for growth and development this season is critical to increasing the franchise’s chances of becoming a playoff contender again.
Still, expectations for the Patriots were low in 2024. New England faces a daunting schedule through the first eight weeks, and the upcoming schedule appears difficult on paper, with a number of difficult defenses:
- Week 3 @ New York Jets (TNF)
- Week 4 @ San Francisco 49ers
- Week 5 against Miami Dolphins
- Week 6: against Houston Texans
- Week 7 @ Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL London games)
- Week 8 against New York Jets
After the home game against the Jets in Week 8, the team travels to the Titans and Bears two weeks in a row. At that point, the Patriots may no longer have a chance at a playoff spot, making it an ideal time for Maye to make his NFL debut.
Some argue that Maye will benefit from learning on the fly. Fans will point to the success of the Houston Texans since CJ Stroud took over. On the other hand, the Carolina Panthers just benched Bryce Young, who has struggled and shown no development since the start of the first week of the 2023 season. Every quarterback situation is different: some had to overcome fundamental issues, others came into the league struggling with organizational problems.
Maintaining Maye’s confidence is key to his future development. According to PFF, the Patriots’ offensive line ranks 28th in pass blocking through the first two weeks. This is an example of an organizational flaw that could make it difficult for Maye to succeed. Mayo and the organization know the offensive line was shaky entering 2024 and likely don’t want to face the situation of potentially having to bench Maye if he struggled behind that weak unit earlier in the season.
The Patriots are a rebuilding team, and Brissett’s leadership and mentorship will pay dividends for Maye. There is little doubt that Maye will not be given the starting role at some point this season.
