What are the odds that Drake Maye will be Patriots’ starting QB?

Maye, meanwhile, has +250 odds to be the Patriots’ Week 1 starting quarterback. Brissett’s odds give him an implied probability of 80 percent that he’ll be with the top unit when the regular season opens.

Even though the Patriots took Maye with the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s seemingly been the expectation that he’ll start the season on the bench. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo told NFL Media’s Cameron Wolfe right after they selected Maye that Brissett, Maye, and the quarterbacks were “going to compete”

“And the best player will start,” Mayo told Wolfe.

Maye began practices during organized team activities (OTAs) as the perceived third-string quarterback, practicing behind Brissett and Bailey Zappe. By the time the team broke off for the summer following minicamp practices in June, Maye elevated to the second unit during practices.

Mayo downplayed Maye’s movement on the depth chart, though.

“The depth charts, there really are no depth charts,” Mayo told reporters during minicamp in June. “I mean, we can say the first group, the second group — we’re trying to mix and match offensively and defensively just to see what combinations work. And honestly, still trying to see where your depth is. … That’s part of the whole process.”

Still, Mayo believed Maye was trending in the right path as minicamp wrapped up.

“He’s done a great job. He’s going the right direction,” Mayo said in June. “Now, in saying that, we know there are going to be some down days. That’s one thing that I’ve been trying to stress to him is, ‘Alright, just keep chipping at the rock, get one percent better every day.’ It’s not always going to be great. He’s done a good job.”

The Patriots were in a similar situation at quarterback a few years ago. They re-signed Cam Newton before drafting Mac Jones with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Newton got the first-team reps in practice when he was present at training camp, missing multiple practices due to the league’s COVID policy.

Jones wound up winning the starting quarterback battle at the end of training camp that year and Newton was released in a surprising move. Of course, Bill Belichick was the head coach of the team then and there’s no precedent on what Mayo could do in his first season as a head coach. Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has never started a rookie quarterback in Week 1 in his five seasons an offensive coordinator.

While Maye isn’t the favorite to start in Week 1, sportsbooks seem to believe he’ll play at some point this season. The betting total for passing yards in his rookie season is set at 2,400.5 yards at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Maye’s still viewed as a bit of a longshot to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. His odds to win that award are tied for the eighth-best (+2500) at DraftKings Sportsbook.