FOXBORO, Mass. — The bar was low for Drake Maye on Thursday night, but the rookie quarterback cleared it.
After seeing just seven snaps in the Patriots‘ preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers last week, Maye played two full quarters in New England’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday.
The third-overall pick arguably popped more than he has in any practice this summer, finishing with six completions on 11 passes for 47 yards.
Maye, who also ran for 15 yards and a TD, could’ve posted better numbers if not for shaky play from his receivers and offensive tackles.
Let’s go over some initial takeaways from Maye’s second preseason game.
Initial Thoughts on Drake Maye’s Performance Against Eagles
Patriots Fans Finally Have a Reason To Feel Good About Maye
The discourse surrounding Maye has been negative, to say the least.
The UNC product hasn’t come close to challenging Jacoby Brissett for the starting job and rarely has flashed the talent that makes him such a tantalizing prospect.
Maye’s struggles shouldn’t cause alarm, as not all highly-drafted quarterbacks are created equal. He’s on the raw side, and that’s fine.
But that’s not what an increasingly apathetic fanbase wants to hear, and you can’t blame them.
So, Thursday night’s performance was a breath of fresh air, even though it was far from perfect. Maye finally pushed the ball downfield with success.
10 ➡️ 6@DrakeMaye2 | @Javondbaker1
📺: @wbzsports pic.twitter.com/wAPtZAD7DL
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 15, 2024
Maye’s best throw of the night — a deep shot for Javon Baker — unfortunately was dropped. It arguably would’ve been the top highlight of the summer for both players.
I am SO disappointed Javon Baker didn't come down with this. What a gorgeous throw by Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/LTQw0sGRfO
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) August 16, 2024
We also got this play from Maye and Ja’Lynn Polk, a potential look at the future of the Patriots offense.
Shifty @jpolk_22 😮💨
📺: @wbzsports pic.twitter.com/i68Fv50dKZ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 16, 2024
Again, Maye wasn’t perfect. He still was indecisive in the pocket and delivered a few awkward throws. But that was to be expected from a player who has worn training wheels all summer.
Let’s see if Maye can build on the success over the next week.
Maye Saw Just 1 Series With Patriots’ Top O-Line
Maye still hasn’t practiced with the Patriots’ top offensive line this summer. But he played one series with the top unit last week and did the same Thursday night.
The only difference: Nick Everett filled in at center for David Andrews, whom the Patriots clearly are managing.
This was Maye’s first line:
LT: Vederian Lowe
LG: Sidy Sow
C: Nick Leverett
RG: Mike Onwenu
RT: Chukwuma Okorafor
And this was his second line:
LT: Vederian Lowe
LG: Sidy Sow
C: Nick Leverett
RG: Layden Robinson
RT: Caedan Wallace
The results weren’t great, as Maye dealt with consistent pressure. Patriots fans surely were holding their collective breath after a third-quarter sack given up by Lowe.
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Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said fear of playing Maye behind the second unit factored into the decision to limit his snaps against the Panthers. We’re not sure why the plan changed for Thursday’s game, but it was good to see Maye just go out and play.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Maye sees any reps with the top O-line when the Patriots return to practice on Saturday.
How Patriots Used Maye Was Noteworthy
The Patriots haven’t asked Maye to do anything overly difficult in practices. It’s been a deluge of checkdowns and out-routes. If coaches had Maye run the same kind of offense on Thursday despite playing with the top O-line, it would’ve told you all you’d needed to know about his development.
Instead, Maye was asked to make actual NFL throws and stand tall in the pocket. The coaches wouldn’t have done that if they thought Maye wasn’t ready or would get himself hurt.
The Patriots will still be extra cautious with Maye, and rightfully so. The 21-year-old still has a long way to go. But this was a step in the right direction for all involved.
Jacoby Brissett Still is the No. 1 Quarterback
On the downside, Jacoby Brissett didn’t play well against the Eagles. The veteran completed three of his seven passes for 17 yards while throwing an end zone interception. He also was fortunate to not be picked off a second time.
Poor pass protection also contributed to Brissett’s struggles, but not on the interception. That was just a bad play.
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However, nothing has changed with the Patriots’ QB battle. Brissett remains the top option, and fans should brace for the possibility of Maye sitting the entire season.
Things certainly could change over the next few months, but at this juncture, the Patriots’ best option is to start Brissett and sit Maye.