.png)
It only took five weeks, but the New England Patriots have announced that rookie quarterback Drake Maye will get his first career start in the NFL this Sunday at home against the Houston Texans. It’s not a surprising move if you don’t closely follow the Pats and just see their abysmal 1-4 record and painfully bad offensive output. However, if you follow this team (like I do), you’ll know this is a completely unnecessary and panic-driven move. Let's discuss.
By Ryan Galloway | October 12, 2024
Photo by Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
Hard Times Have Fallen On New England
Has Jacoby Brissett been good? No. However, anyone who has seen at least one New England offensive drive this season would know that he alone is not the issue. The offensive line has been the worst in the NFL, and this weekend against Miami is the FIRST TIME this year that they roll out the same line two weeks in a row. On top of that, Brissett has had no one to throw to. Hunter Henry has been okay, but the receiving core (mostly rookies or young players) hasn’t been able to provide dynamic plays or even get open. Even if they did get open, it wouldn’t matter because Brissett is given about two and a half seconds to get the ball out before he’s sacked. And that’s only a slight exaggeration – he’s been pressured on 48% of his dropbacks this season. That horrible offensive line, which ranks last in all categories, has been an ever-shifting plug-and-play situation, and now C David Andrews is out for the year. He is the only quality lineman other than Michael Onwenu (who has been playing out of position all year), and former 1st round pick Cole Strange (lol) is being discussed to start at center once he returns from having his knee put through a paper shredder last season.
Drake Maye is being set up to fail. It may not be the coaching staff’s intention, but that’s what it boils down to. I get the move to an extent. Maye gives you more flexibility in play calling. He’s quick, he can move around, and he can extend plays with his legs. Brissett can’t give you that, but he does give you experience and expendability. If Maye gets hurt, or just plays horribly then you’re in trouble. Rookie quarterbacks need to be handled so delicately. A quality player can be thrown into a bad situation, have his confidence rocked, and never be the same player (see Josh Rosen). So, you can’t go back from here. Maye is the starter the rest of the way.
Now, I love Drake Maye. I think he has what it takes to be the future of the New England Patriots. My biggest issue here is timing. Starting his career against the Houston Texans? When you JUST played a bad Miami Dolphins team and are about to play a bad Jacksonville Jaguars team? Houston has a scary pass rush. Their defense currently ranks fourth in the NFL against the pass and is generating the highest pressure rate in the league at 42%. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson are going to have an absolute field day with the Pats' o-line, and on the other side, they get to terrorize a top-drafted quarterback. Drake, go have fun out there, kid.
My biggest issue with this is the motivation behind it. First, head coach Jerod Mayo has been all over the place when discussing his quarterback situation. He goes from saying that Brissett gives the team the best chance to win, to saying that Maye has essentially outperformed Brissett the whole time but they’re not going to make a change. Then you hear rumblings about a locker room mutiny, the offense continues to underperform, and then the unforgivable happens. Empty seats at Gillette Stadium. Patriots owner Robert Kraft can and has forgiven a lot in his time, but he cannot allow this new phenomenon: apathy regarding the New England Patriots.
No one cares about the Patriots anymore. Unless you live in the area, support the team, or are a Jets fan, the Pats aren’t on your radar. The Drake Maye announcement didn’t even crack top headlines on ESPN.
Maye He Deliver Us
Now that we’ve addressed that, let’s look at the positives. We get to watch the third pick play football! Fellow rookie quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams have been fun to watch and have provided their generally bad teams with a lot of hope and optimism. The Patriots are hoping Maye can provide the same, and at least give fans a reason to tune in every Sunday. Perhaps Maye can get into a rhythm with Pop Douglas and rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. Polk has actually had a very promising start to his career, but Brissett has had incredible difficulty getting the ball in his hands. So, with Maye, you might have a chance to accurately evaluate your other young talent on offense. It currently looks like RB Rhamondre Stevenson will be out, or be limited, during the game Sunday, giving opportunity for Maye to get the short run and pass game going with Antonio Gibson. Realistically, expectations should be low for Drake Maye this weekend. Historically, first starts are not good indicators of the future of quarterbacks. Tom Brady was average in his first start, and Mac Jones was great in his.
Ultimately, I pray to God the offensive line can provide some semblance of protection for the rookie quarterback. I think we’re going to see a couple of exciting plays, and maybe the Patriots will even be in a position to win at the end of the game. Especially when you factor in the other issues New England has faced this season, if Drake Maye looks somewhat competent and the team is rejuvenated by his arrival, then that is the biggest win the Patriots will get all year. This team needs hope and something to build on.
A new era for the New England Patriots begins on Sunday, October 13, at 1 PM EST.