The New England Patriots may finally be handing over the starting quarterback reins to rookie Drake Maye, according to multiple insiders.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo appeared on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Monday and was asked yet again about the team’s signal-caller situation.
Numerous reporters noted the change in tone of Mayo, hinting that Maye could be in line to replace veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett under center as soon as Sunday’s Week 6 contest against the Houston Texans.
Media members theorized last week that longtime center David Andrews’ season-ending shoulder injury could lead to Maye’s installment as QB1 being delayed. Mayo dismissed that idea, however.
Maye has appeared in only one contest off New England’s bench this season, as Brissett has started all five games and led the group to a 1-4 start. The Patriots upset the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10, in Week 1 on the road but have since lost four in a row and been outscored 91-46. The team has the ninth-ranked defense (20.4 points allowed per game), but the 31st-ranked offense (12.4 points per contest).
Brissett has gone 79-for-135 (58.5 completion percentage) for 696 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Maye took 16 snaps in New England’s Week 3 defeat against the New York Jets and finished 4-for-8 for 22 passing yards.
The Patriots selected Maye with the third overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, so it’s clear that the UNC product is the future quarterback of the franchise. Now, it’s just a matter of how much longer Mayo is willing to go with the struggling veteran.