Drake Maye’s Patriots chance is coming sooner rather than later
NY Post
Drake Maye’s time as starting quarterback is a matter of when — and not if — this season.
That’s according to Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer, who wrote Monday that Maye’s appearance in mop-up time for the Patriots against the Jets was “another step” in the organization’s plan of having the rookie succeed Jacoby Brissett.
“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,” Breer wrote.
“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.”
The report said that Maye’s footwork has been improving and that he’s “played better in rhythm, quickened the pace getting through progressions, and was getting rid of the ball faster as the summer transitioned to the regular season.”
The Patriots selected Maye third overall in this year’s NFL draft, after the Bears picked Caleb Williams and the Commanders drafted Jayden Daniels.
Every one of his 23 catches is preserved in his stat log. The same with his 271 receiving yards and his three touchdowns. His 37 targets reflect that he is not one of the focal points — he is the focal point. The leaps into the air to snare the ball and quick pivots and spins to wriggle past defenders are newly minted memories for fans who went from wait-and-see to here-and-now when it comes to anointing this youngster as legit.