As the 2024 NFL season creeps closer and closer, the New England Patriots still have a lot of questions as to what the team will look like for Week 1 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
Getting the team ready is the coaching staff’s top priority, especially focusing on the quarterback position and who will win over the starting job.
While it may be easy to guess that veteran Jacoby Brissett will end up starting the season, you simply cannot rule out rookie Drake Maye after the preseason performance he put on against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Going 6-11 with 47 passing yards, Maye scored a rushing touchdown showing off his impressive abilities finding a lane and using his legs. He also made a beautiful 51-yard pass to rookie receiver Javon Baker running downfield, and even though it was dropped, it was perfectly thrown and showed huge potential for how the Patriots can build around the young quarterback.
Ultimately, the Patriots’ goal has been taking it slow with Maye to allow him to develop and give him time to transition into the NFL, but there is always still a chance that he will fight his way to a starting job earlier than expected.
Getting one final audition to earn the start, Maye needs to put on a show in the preseason finale or Brissett will be lining up behind center for Week 1.
With that being said, here are the three reasons why Maye should start for the New England Patriots.
Why Drake Maye Should Start Week 1
Performs well under pressure
Yes, Maye has a long way to catch up to Brissett in terms of understanding the Patriots’ offense and reading defenses, but that is because he obviously lacks his 9-year NFL tenure that all started with being drafted to New England in 2016.
What Maye has over him, though, is his ability to perform well under pressure and what he can do off-schedule in a panic. This is a very important quality to have as a starting quarterback, especially in the current situation that the Patriots find themselves in this season.
The team has many weaknesses, whether they like it or not. The offensive line needs to be stronger, and the receivers need to get better at getting consistently open. If Maye is able to reset the pocket with his athleticism and scrambling abilities in the way he was able to against the Eagles during the preseason, then he can buy receivers more time and boost the team’s chances.
Whoever ends up being the Patriots’ starting quarterback, they are going to get pressured hard and are going to get pressured often, especially with the state of the O-line. If Maye wants a shot, he is going to have to find passes in tough situations; the good news is that one of his strengths throughout training camp has been completing passes with different arm angles in crowded pockets. His ability to get the ball to receivers while surrounded by crowding linemen is something that will be extremely useful this season.
He gives the offense a new look
Brissett fits the Patriots playbook very well. He’s a smart quarterback who makes the right passes and sets up the running game with the right plays. He has shown in his career that he can make accurate passes and avoid interceptions, aside from the one he threw in the Eagles preseason game.
He may be a better decision-maker than Maye at this point in their careers, but that is simply due to the gap in league experience. Also, what Brissett knows about the Patriots system is not the same system as it was when he was previously on the roster.
The new Alex Van Pelt offensive scheme better suits Maye’s play style than Brissett’s, and that was clear to see vs. the Eagles. From using a run-pass option to having the young quarterback in shotgun often, the new Patriot scheme allowed for Maye to not only use his rushing abilities throughout the game but it also led to him scoring his first NFL touchdown.
In terms of downfield passing attack, Brissett has impressed a lot of people with his arm strength. When he was a starter for 11 games in 2022, he ranked seventh in the league in air yards per throw, averaging 7.7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage per throw.
Impressive stat or not for the veteran, Maye simply has a stronger arm as a rookie and can make deeper throws than Brissett can, end of discussion.
The Patriots struggling offense ranked last in explosive plays last season and seems to be planning on heavily utilizing the run game this season. If they want any kind of chance of success, they need to take advantage of the big-play opportunity that Maye provides.
Best way to develop
Maye is not going to be perfect from the jump, but that’s just how it is for rookie quarterbacks. The best way for him to learn is the put him into the game and he will learn as he plays.
Many rookies have thrived by playing right away, for example, C.J. Stroud for the Houston Texans, where his abilities elevated their team into contention. Many rookies have benefitted from sitting on the bench as well, like Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, getting his chance last season and putting on a show after the departure of Aaron Rodgers.
On a team like the Patriots, there are going to be highs but there are going to be a lot of lows, especially with the O-line and the group of receivers downfield for whoever lines up at the quarterback position.
Either way, the only chance for Maye to become the answer for New England is for him to get out there and show his skills on the field.
Main Image: Kris Craig/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
