Patriots set Drake Maye up to succeed even before selecting him in 2024 NFL Draft
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – The New England Patriots knew they needed a major change in the quarterback room heading into the 2024 season. And that began when the team parted ways with former head coach Bill Belichick and ultimately traded 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones. It was officially a new era for Jerod Mayo and the Patriots. […]
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – The New England Patriots knew they needed a major change in the quarterback room heading into the 2024 season.
And that began when the team parted ways with former head coach Bill Belichick and ultimately traded 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones. It was officially a new era for Jerod Mayo and the Patriots.
However, the team turned to a familiar face to provide a veteran presence in the quarterback room.
Knowing that the plan was to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick, the Patriots still needed someone who could serve as a mentor along with a starter if the rookie isn't ready when the season begins.
And Jacoby Brissett was who they deemed the perfect fit for that role.
Fast forward to late May, the Patriots took the field for OTAs on Wednesday, with media invited to watch for the second time. And one thing that was on full display was the connection between Brissett and Maye.
Every time Brissett stepped up to take a rep, Maye watched closely, following the veteran's footwork and mannerisms in the pocket to help him improve. And the two were seen talking often, with Brissett even coming over to the rookie and putting his arm around him at one point.
While Brissett is serving as the veteran presence in the locker room, it still is a competition between him and Maye, along with Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton III. So the main prize: the winner will get that starting role.
For some, it might be hard to help a player who they are also competing against. But for Brissett, it comes naturally to him.
"If you ask anybody that I've ever played with, I'm that with everybody. I'm a teammate. And the competition should take who I am as a man away from anything that I do on the field. I want to see us all succeed," Brissett said. "Honestly, the best player's going to play and if that's me, I hope it is. And if not, I got to do my job to help others and find a way to serve this team."
That's the exact mindset that the Patriots could have hoped for when they brought in a quarterback. So Brissett is already delivering in such a short time.
While Maye was brought in to be the next franchise quarterback for New England, it could easily be Brissett starting once the season rolls around. That would provide the rookie with some time to learn the ways of the NFL and get acclimated to this new and faster play.
It's too early to truly say if this move will work out in the long run, but as for right now, Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf get an A+.
