Ex-Patriots coach Bill Parcells on pros/cons of playing young QBs

“You’ve got to do everything in your power to allow him to have a chance to succeed.”

Bill Parcells saw plenty of QBs go through the ups and downs of the NFL during his lengthy coaching career. AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The Patriots still have a decision to make about where exactly Drake Maye falls on their QB depth chart entering Week 1.

While the line of thinking entering the 2024 NFL season revolved around New England giving the keys of the offense to bridge starter Jacoby Brissett and letting Maye develop on his own timeline, that strategy could be uprooted after two weeks of preseason action.

Brissett struggled in limited action (3-for-7, 17 yards, one interception) against the Eagles on Thursday, while Maye showcased some of the high-end talent that made him a top-3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in the same game.

Maye went 6-for-11 for 47 yards while also scrambling for a touchdown in what was a 14-13 loss. Even with New England’s woes in pass protection so far this preseason, Maye’s ability to move out of the pocket and execute on quick throws allowed the Patriots to move the chains with some regularity during his four total series.

Even on one of his missed throws against the Eagles, Maye still managed to show off some of his arm strength on a deep ball to Javon Baker that should have been reeled in by the rookie wideout.

With just one preseason game left on the docket before the start of the regular season, Mayo and the Patriots are leaving the door open for Maye to leapfrog Brissett and seize the starting job.

But are the Patriots inviting too much risk by possibly throwing their prized rookie QB into the fray against NFL competition right away?

Even though Maye’s pro-ready frame (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), arm strength, and athleticism all paint the picture of a QB ready for reps in the NFL, former Patriots head coach Bill Parcels believes the mental side of the game can’t be overlooked when it comes to dealing with rookie signal-callers.

“Fans never consider the psychological makeup of the player you’re getting ready to throw to the wolves,” Parcells told The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy. “What you really have to judge is the timing and the chance to succeed. Sometimes if they don’t succeed, it destroys them.

“So I think you just have to see what you’re dealing with personally. What kind of temperament he seems to have. How does he respond to negative play situations or hard coaching?

“Fans will say, ‘Well, if he can’t take it, we don’t want him anyway,’ but when this is a high draft choice, you’ve got to do everything in your power to allow him to have a chance to succeed. Economically, these days, it’s not in your best interest if he doesn’t succeed. It’s bad if you have a lot of expense and no production.”

Seeing Maye make strides in real time during preseason action has been an encouraging sight for a Patriots franchise that is still likely looking at a multi-year rebuild.

However, there is a compelling case to be made for New England to ease Maye into starting reps this fall, even if that means eventually naming him QB1 in October or November.

Beyond New England’s deficiencies on offense — especially along the offensive line — the Patriots also have some daunting matchups out of the gate against teams like the Bengals, a stingy Jets defense, 49ers, Dolphins, and Texans.

Even if Maye has accelerated his developmental timeline a bit over the last few weeks, the Patriots also shouldn’t necessarily be in a rush when it comes to putting their most valuable asset into real-game situations.