In the realm of American football, the quarterback position is one that is highly scrutinized and analyzed, with every pass, every decision, being dissected and evaluated. And in the case of the New England Patriots, the quarterback battle is heating up as we head closer to the start of the regular season.
Don’t count Drake Maye out from starting Week 1 just yet. In the hours following an encouraging performance in New England’s Week 2 preseason loss to the Eagles on Thursday night, coach Jerod Mayo left the door open for the No. 3 overall pick to unseat Jacoby Brissett as the team’s starter out of the gate.
“I do,” Mayo said Friday morning when asked if he still looks at his QB situation as a competition for who will start Week 1 against Cincinnati. “We have three more days of training camp practices, and it’s our job as coaches to evaluate. The competition isn’t over. They’re still going to go out there, and they have to show not only themselves and their coaches but also their teammates. So, it’s definitely still a competition.”
When asked later during his presser if Maye could see work with the first team over those final three practices, Mayo said, “We’ll see. We’ll have a staff meeting later on today, and that decision will be made. I do think he definitely showed improvement yesterday as a whole, and we’ll see what happens going forward.”
Reflecting on Thursday’s preseason game, it was clear that Maye outperformed Brissett. The veteran started the game but struggled to find a rhythm, throwing an interception in the end zone that erased a scoring opportunity. In contrast, Maye entered the game and immediately made an impact, leading two consecutive scoring drives. His performance culminated in a 4-yard rushing touchdown just after the two-minute warning.
“I think every time you get out there you get more and more confident,” Maye said postgame. “First off, it’s always going to be the nerves, getting out and running out there the first time. But other than that, more reps are only going to help me. At the end of the day, I’m just fortunate to be able to get out there get some reps, and make the most of my opportunities.”
While some may argue that the struggling offensive line should be solidified before thrusting the rookie under center, Mayo emphasized that the play along the offensive line would not impede Maye’s chances of being named the starter.
The quarterback competition in New England is far from over, with both Maye and Brissett vying for the starting spot. As we approach Week 1, all eyes will be on the Patriots’ coaching staff as they make a decision that could shape the course of the season. So, stay tuned for more updates on this exciting quarterback battle.