The New England Patriots will enter a new era on Sunday.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye will start over Jacoby Brissett when New England hosts the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news of Maye being named the Patriots’ starting quarterback.
It’s a risky and controversial move for a franchise that went 1-4 in the first five weeks and is teetering on total collapse. Let’s go over the details and look at what Tuesday’s move means for Maye and the Patriots moving forward.
Drake Maye Replaces Jacoby Brissett Atop Patriots QB Depth Chart
Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, backed up Brissett for each of the first five games. A late-summer surge nearly propelled the UNC product to the starting role in Week 1, but head coach Jerod Mayo rolled with the safe, veteran option in Brissett.
Maye will get his first NFL start when the Patriots and Texans kick off from Gillette Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The Patriots' offense in Weeks 1-5 under Jacoby Brissett:
📉 12.4 points per game (31st in NFL)
📉 4.3 yards per play (31st)
📉 -0.34 EPA per pass (30th)
📉 48.3% pressure rate allowed (32nd)Drake Maye, you're up. pic.twitter.com/kBLOWA9SXw
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 8, 2024
Maye replaced Brissett for one drive at the end of New England’s Week 3 blowout loss to the New York Jets. The freshman signal-caller completed four of eight passes for 22 yards while rushing for 13 yards and taking two sacks.
Brissett will serve as Maye’s top backup, with rookie sixth-rounder Joe Milton III likely being designated as the emergency third QB, a role he filled the first five weeks.
Is the Patriots’ Offense Ready for Maye?
That’s the big question, isn’t it?
The Patriots surely hoped Brissett would last longer as the starter and give Maye more time to develop. Maye’s talent is undeniable, but he also is a raw prospect with little experience running a pro-style offense.
SEE MORE: New England Patriots Depth Chart
Footwork, diagnosing coverages/blitzes, and pocket presence are Maye’s biggest areas for improvement. He made great strides in each department as training camp progressed, but it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll regress and revert to survival mode behind the NFL’s worst offensive line.
In the first five weeks, New England’s O-line allowed the NFL’s highest pressure rate at 48.3%, per TruMedia. Meanwhile, the Patriots’ Week 6 opponent, the Texans, posted the league’s highest pressure rate at 42%.
Jacoby Brissett takes a shot and hits a gorgeous back-shoulder throw to Ja'Lynn Polk pic.twitter.com/6ZbX6iFbcD
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) September 29, 2024
From Will Anderson Jr. to Danielle Hunter to Mario Edwards, Houston boasts one of the league’s most formidable front sevens. Patriots fans have every reason to fear Maye taking too many big hits and potentially suffering an injury.
As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots ease Maye into the game with a conservative, run-heavy attack. The Patriots should ride Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson for as long as the game allows them to.
Given all the negative variables, why would Mayo throw caution to the wind and play the future of the franchise before he’s ready?
Well, it’s complicated.
First of all, while fans might be ready to give up on the season and tank for a high draft pick, NFL players and coaches don’t work that way. The punishment of allowing a season to spiral out of control, and developing young players in a losing culture, potentially outweighs the rewards of a top-10 pick.
Everyone in New England — fans, players, coaches, executives — needs something to feel good about. Maye could be that spark.
He also could be the best option regardless of circumstance. Brissett played well in the first two weeks but his play deteriorated in the last three games. The veteran missed open throws, held onto the ball for too long, and took too many bad sacks.
There were plays to be made in the losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, and Brissett didn’t make them. Players watched the same film we did, and they knew Brissett was hurting their chances to win.
If the majority of New England’s locker room was ready for a change at QB, Mayo would risk mutiny by continuing to start Brissett. The situation is that dire at 1 Patriot Place.
Finally, there’s something to be said for removing the kid gloves and seeing what you have in your top draft pick. Maye is far from a finished product, but he was the No. 3 pick for a reason. It’s time to see what he can do — for better or worse.
How Have Other Rookie QBs Fared in 2024?
Maye will become the fourth rookie QB to start a game in 2024.
Atlanta Falcons rookie Michael Penix Jr. and Vikings rookie J.J. McCarthy will be the only freshmen QBs without a start after this week. McCarthy’s debut won’t happen anytime soon, as the Michigan product will miss the entire season due to a torn meniscus.
It’s been a mixed back for the three rookie QBs who began the season as starters — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix — but the positives are starting to outweigh the negatives.
Williams totaled just 267 yards over his first two games while throwing zero touchdowns, throwing two interceptions, and taking nine sacks. But the No. 1 overall pick turned a corner in Week 3 and, over his last three games, averaged 274.7 yards per contest while throwing five TDs and two picks and taking eight sacks.
Nix got off to an even worse start while looking like one of the league’s worst QBs in the first four weeks. But the Oregon product led the Denver Broncos to a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5 while completing 70.37% of his passes for 206 yards and two TDs.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix have combined for 10 wins this season. 📈
Here's how the rookie starting QBs stack up after Week 5. 👀 pic.twitter.com/8Jk5IIGWIu
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 7, 2024
However, the breakout star is Jayden Daniels, who led the Washington Commanders to a surprising 4-1 record in the first five games.
The No. 2 overall pick ranks first in total EPA on dropbacks, second in explosive plays, second in passer rating against the blitz, and first in completion percentage, per TruMedia. His 300 rushing yards also rank second among all quarterbacks.
Daniels was considered the most pro-ready QB in his class, so Patriots fans shouldn’t expect Maye to play that well right away. And, honestly, there’s a good chance that Maye struggles for a while.
But with recent improvements from other rookie QBs in mind, the Patriots also have reason to believe Maye will show glimpses of why he was such a highly regarded prospect.
