Patriots Rumors: Drake Maye Likely to Sit for ‘Several Weeks’ Behind Jacoby Brissett

Julia StumbaughSeptember 8, 2024

Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye is likely to spend at least “several weeks” backing up Jacoby Brissett before he earns his first NFL start, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday.

“As far as when he’s gonna play, they want to put him in a position to succeed, and they also are not gonna put him out there unless he is the guy that gives the team the best chance to win,” Rapoport said about Maye on NFL Game Day. “That means they’re gonna make sure that the offensive line is good enough to put him out there, the skill position group, it’s all set for Maye to come in right away and have success.

“Probably going to be several weeks at least.”

Ian Rapoport @RapSheetThe Insiders on @NFLGameDay with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: When will the #Patriots put Drake Maye on the field? Plans for the #49ers, plus WR Ricky Pearsall could be back Week 5; The #Cowboys and Dak Prescott remain in contact about a contract, plus CeeDee Lamb is jacked. pic.twitter.com/HTYunaDpSG

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo named Brissett the starter for Sunday’s Week 1 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday.

Maye appeared to enter training camp as the second option behind Brissett.

Around the time of the Patriots’ preseason opener he was working with the second-team offense while Brissett practiced exclusively with the first, Doug Kyed reported on Aug. 12 for the Boston Herald.

The No. 3 pick of the 2024 draft seemingly made a push for the starting position during the preseason.

After Brissett struggled in Week 2 of the preseason against the Carolina Panthers, Maye stepped in and shone in relief while leading the Patriots to a win. The rookie again received more playing time than Brissett in Week 3.

Mayo said in an appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Aug. 26 that Maye had “outplayed” Brissett.

Mayo walked that back after naming Brissett starter. In a later appearance on the WEEI show the Patriots head coach said he should have “given more context to the comment” (h/t Khari Thompson of Boston.com.)

“Drake had more playing time in the preseason than Jacoby and that was intentional, so as we talk about the development plan we know what it is internally but it was definitely intentional,” Mayo said.

When naming Brissett starer, Mayo declined to give any estimation of how long the ninth-year quarterback would hold the role before Maye was given a shot at QB1, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

After using a top-three pick to acquire Maye, it seems certain the Patriots will give the ball to their potential next franchise quarterback eventually. Brissett’s performance early this season, starting with Sunday’s season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, could determine how long that takes.