Could Drake Maye start Week 1 for Patriots? Here’s the roadblocks

FOXBOROUGH — Drake Maye might be making a late push for the Patriots’ starting QB title.

But even with the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft narrowing the gap between him and presumed starter Jacoby Brissett, New England’s offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt did stress that Maye still has a few challenges in front of him with the start of the regular season a little over two weeks away.

The most daunting hurdle standing between Maye and the top of the depth chart? For Van Pelt, it’s still the presence of Brissett. 

“Jacoby,” Van Pelt answered when asked about what has hindered Maye from earning steady first-team reps. “Right now, he’s our starting quarterback. The good news is this week we get to play everybody. We’re still in the evaluation process. We’ve got one more preseason game. Our guys are going to play, so we’ll have a chance to evaluate them.”

New England is set to play the Commanders in Maryland on Sunday night. How both Maye and Brissett fare in that final tune-up could hold significant sway over who gets the starting nod in Week 1, even if Brissett remains the current leader in the clubhouse. 

“I would say by Monday night we should know who the quarterback is,” Jerod Mayo said of when New England hopes to determine who will be QB1 to open the season. “Sunday night game, it’s always kind of hard to crank through the film, especially on the road, but I think Monday, Monday-Tuesday, we probably need to know who it is. That doesn’t mean I’ll tell you on Monday or Tuesday.”

Some of the momentum has swung in Maye’s favor over the last week when it comes to his viability as an NFL starter right out of the gate. 

Brissett struggled in limited action (3-for-7, 17 yards, one interception) against the Eagles last week during New England’s second preseason game, while Maye led the Patriots on two scoring drives over his four series against Philadelphia.

Maye completed six of his 11 throws for 47 yards while also scrambling for a touchdown — showcasing both his arm strength and athleticism on a Patriots offense lacking in terms of playmakers. 

“(Maye has) taken steps forward every single day, and that’s the big thing,” Van Pelt said. “There’s no regression. He’s taking what he’s learned from the previous practices and applying it to the next practice. He’s been really impressive, the last few weeks especially.”

Mayo has stressed that a competition remains ongoing between Maye and Brissett since that game against the Eagles, with Van Pelt also agreeing that the door is not closed on the rookie leapfrogging Brissett moving forward.

However, Van Pelt also reinforced his faith in Brissett, who has 79 games of NFL experience under his belt. 

“I’m sure there’s a chance (Maye could become the starter), but I think as you go in, there’s still a process of how you bring a rookie quarterback along,” Van Pelt said. “So I think that’s important to remember as well.

“There’s certain things in this offense that Jacoby, having played in this offense, understands some of the tools you can use to get you out of certain situations, pressure situations, things like that, that Drake is still learning.

“He has really been impressive the last two weeks in practice and in the game, and he’s moving in the right direction, for sure. But again, a rookie quarterback coming in and playing — obviously Jacoby has tons of experience, not just in the NFL but in this system, and we’ve won games with him in Cleveland, so I feel comfortable with his understanding (of the offense).”

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Van Pelt is still a big believer in Brissett. 

Beyond the insurance that the veteran offers as a potential bridge starter if New England thinks Maye needs more seasoning, Van Pelt was also Brissett’s offensive coordinator on the Cleveland Browns in 2022 — so there’s already plenty of familiarity there. 

Even with the potential that Maye has showcased over the past week, Van Pelt stressed that New England shouldn’t necessarily rush the rookie — especially at such a critical position on the field. 

“(Quarterback is) the hardest position in sports,” Van Pelt said. “Especially for a rookie guy coming in and not seeing all the defenses that they’re going to see in the NFL, it’s tough. It’s hard to transition in, and it takes a little bit of time. So, we’re going to be as patient as we can with that process.”