Henry McKenna
AFC East Reporter
Jacoby Brissett would not actually stand an opportunity.
The New England Patriots chosen Drake Maye No. 3 general within the 2024 NFL Draft. They took him to be the face of their franchise. However the plan is, for now, to not rush him into motion. It is one thing the Patriots made clear to Maye earlier than even drafting him.
“They requested me [how I would feel not starting] in entrance of a bunch of coaches,” Maye advised reporters. “I will put together and be able to be the starter, however on the similar time, you recognize that as a younger man coming in there, it is not given to you. You have to earn it. … My job is to go in there, earn the fellows’ respect, assist whoever is the starter, if I am not, be one of the best participant they’ll and assist this group win.”
The upside for Maye is great. He’s a prospect with measurement (6-foot-4, 230 kilos), arm velocity, mobility and athleticism that almost all of his NFL friends do not have. What do these elite professional QBs have that Maye would not? An understanding of offensive and defensive schemes and a mastery of situational offense.
That is why an AFC govt advised me earlier than the draft that he believes Maye ought to spend a whole season on the bench earlier than getting a begin.
“We’re not sitting right here saying that Drake is our beginning quarterback. I believe he understands that. He understands the issues that he has to get higher at,” new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo stated after Spherical 1 of the draft. “You’ll be able to discuss potential all you need to. Till you attain it, it actually would not matter. We did know the person; we all know the person is a tough employee, and he will do all the things he can to achieve success.”
Whereas govt Eliot Wolf, Mayo and Maye have all preached persistence in these early days, it is onerous to think about anybody holding Maye out of the beginning rotation when his bodily instruments assist him eclipse Brissett on the depth chart.
I perceive why some suppose Brissett would possibly maintain off Maye. I am not shopping for it. The idea is rooted in Wolf’s historical past.
Together with spending 4 seasons underneath Invoice Belichick and the Patriots, Wolf spent 15 years with the Packers and two years with the Browns. That stint in Inexperienced Bay was formative. Wolf witnessed the Packers drafting and stashing Aaron Rodgers, the twenty fourth general choose in 2005. And after Wolf left Inexperienced Bay, the Packers did one thing related with Jordan Love.
Wolf may very properly comply with that sample. “We’re a draft and develop group,” he stated throughout a pre-draft press convention.
Patriots thrive in first NFL Draft with out Invoice Belichick
In fact, the issue goes again to Brissett’s worth. He isn’t Brett Favre or Rodgers. Brissett is correct on the cusp as a journeyman spot starter and backup.
He has performed a pleasant job working a number of offenses across the NFL. However at no level has he actually elevated one. He’s a protected conductor, merely conserving the prepare working and on the tracks. He will not tune up the prepare to go full-speed forward. There is no proof of that at any level in his profession — not over multiple-game stretches.
However the Patriots are insistent he can and can compete with Maye for the beginning job. Brissett has expertise in offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s offense. Nevertheless it’s an offense that makes loads of sense for Maye, too.
It is simply not life like to anticipate Brissett to carry off somebody like Maye. Even when he is not prepared, he’ll make performs that can make him a tantalizing and thrilling possibility for the beginning lineup. The messaging is not fallacious both. The Patriots are sensible to advertise competitors on a group that went 4-13 final season. They’re sensible to check Maye with a little bit adversity out of the gate. It’s completely the suitable factor to say and do. However New England did not simply take Maye at third general as a result of he is a undertaking. They obtained Tennessee QB Joe Milton within the seventh spherical of this 12 months’s draft as a result of he’s really a undertaking — a lot in order that some suppose he’ll ultimately play a unique place within the NFL.
Maye can play. He’ll make errors, however in a season when the Patriots are aiming extra for .500 than a playoff look, these errors would possibly function instructing moments. The one hesitancy from New England ought to come round their offense’s readiness to assist a younger quarterback.
Some would say it is the worst offense within the NFL for the quarterback.
“I believe they’re fallacious,” Maye stated. “The protection final 12 months held numerous groups to low factors, and I am trying ahead to serving to in any means offensively.”
I will attempt to maintain my tongue about how a protection solely barely tangentially helps a quarterback.
However I will say that the Patriots did deal with the offensive line and the receiver positions — albeit in a much less splashy means than many anticipated, given the Patriots entered the offseason with a large amount of money.
On the offensive line, New England let Trent Brown stroll in free company and, as a substitute, introduced in Chukwuma Okorafor, a profession proper deal with. The Patriots retained guard/deal with Michael Onwenu. After which New England drafted deal with Caedan Wallace and guard Layden Robinson. It is an overhaul — however perhaps not a concrete improve.
For receivers, the Patriots quarterback may have Kendrick Bourne, KJ Osborn, Demario Douglas and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk (second spherical) and Javon Baker (fourth spherical). That is in all probability the place the place there’s clearly some progress, although the rookies are something however a given to contribute. Tight finish Hunter Henry returned in free company and Austin Hooper joined the group. That spot appears stable.
Working again Rhamondre Stevenson shall be Maye’s greatest pal, each as a goal out of the backfield and as a strong runner who attracts defenders into the field.
It must be sufficient to offer Maye a wholesome area to develop. It will not be an elite offense, and the left deal with place is actually unsure. However for a 12 months targeted on improvement, it is the type of offense that should not harm Maye. He’s, in any case, a participant who drew Wolf’s consideration for making North Carolina’s offense practical in a 12 months of turnover.
“To not take something away from anybody else in this system, however the sport was on his shoulders for them,” Wolf stated. “They’ve some gifted gamers, gifted working backs and receivers, however he actually was capable of elevate them and make them into what they could possibly be.”
Feels like a well-known story.
Feels like what Maye should do in New England.
Beginning Week 1, little question.
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities because the AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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