New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye isn’t expected to redshirt for the entire season. According to NFL insider Albert Breer, a plan is already in motion for the No. 3 overall pick of the NFL draft to become the starter.
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo admitted that Maye was taking about 30 percent of the first-team reps at practice behind veteran Jacoby Brissett. The team also sent him into the game late in the fourth quarter last Thursday night against the New York Jets.
Maye went 4-of-8 passing for 22 yards, along with one rush for nine yards. He led the Patriots down into the red zone before running out of time on the game clock.
On SI.com, Breer wrote:
My understanding is that the plan is for that to happen at some point in 2024—this won’t be a full-on redshirt year. They’ll be patient. But Maye’s progress has gotten to the point where the expectation is he’ll earn his way on to the field relatively soon, with the one caveat being that the Patriots’ offense will have to show (as it did against the Cincinnati Bengals, then didn’t against the Jets) that it can play the way it needs to in order to support a rookie quarterback.
Breer noted that Maye’s footwork improvements, command of the offense and increased speed in getting through his progressions are all major factors in his improved development.
The biggest hurdle for New England is the offensive line. Will the unit be good enough to facilitate a rookie quarterback under center?
Maye was sacked twice in his one and only drive against the Jets. Taking the sort of beating Brissett is currently subjected to under center every week could be detrimental to Maye’s growth as an NFL quarterback.
