Patriots’ Quarterback Competition Heats Up: Drake Maye Emerges as Contender

The New England Patriots’ quarterback competition has taken a surprising turn, with rookie Drake Maye emerging as a serious contender for the starting job. Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, has impressed coach Jerod Mayo with his performance in the team’s second preseason game, leading the team to its only touchdown of the game.

Mayo opened the door for Maye to become the No. 1 quarterback before the regular season starts, saying that the competition for the QB1 spot is not over. Maye’s impressive display on Thursday night, including a deep throw that was nearly caught by Javon Baker, has put pressure on veteran Jacoby Brissett to step up his game.

Brissett, who has been the starter in both preseason games and training camp, did not play well on Thursday night, throwing one interception into the end zone and nearly throwing another under pressure. Maye, on the other hand, was 6-of-11 for 47 yards in two quarters of work, but made some nice plays and had a rushing touchdown.

Mayo said that the Patriots’ starting offense will play in the final preseason game next week, which could give Maye another opportunity to impress. The coach also hinted that Maye could get first-team reps this week, which would be a significant step up for the rookie.

While it’s a bit late to ramp up a quarterback competition, Mayo’s comments have added an extra layer of intrigue to the Patriots’ preseason finale. If Maye can continue to impress, he could force Mayo’s hand and earn the starting job.

The Patriots have had their fair share of offensive issues, including a subpar cast around their quarterback and an offensive line that is considered among the worst in the NFL. Maye’s talent is obvious, and he’s the quarterback of the Patriots’ future. The question is whether he can be the present as well.

“We’ll see,” Mayo said. “If he’s better than Jacoby, you know, he’ll play. He’ll start.”