Drake Maye opens up as Jacoby Brissett takes all first-team reps in tight QB1 battle
Drake Make cannot wait any longer to learn whether he will be the New England Patriots starting quarterback in the 2024 NFL season. On Wednesday, head coach Jerod Mayo announced that he would make a decision on the starter role on Monday.
The third overall pick of the draft is battling returning veteran Jacoby Brissett, who took first-team reps during practice.
After Wednesday's practice, Maye reacted to the development.
"I'm just gonna take advantage of my opportunities," Maye said (via Mike Reiss on X). "I think Jacoby has done a great job, he's a great player, great teammate. He's been repping with the ones the whole time, so I'm excited for him and just trying to take every advantage of the reps I do get and when I'm in there try to have some fun."
Robert Griffin III believes Patriots should start Drake Maye in 2024
However, a few people believe Maye should start as a rookie and showcase his upside early. One of them is former quarterback and current analyst Robert Griffin III.
"Maye takes stress off the O-line with how he moves within and outside of the pocket, is diagnosing coverage and manipulating safeties well in game and gives them the best chance to score points to win in a division with 3 EXPLOSIVE OFFENSES. ... Let him grow through playing and ride the wave with him," he wrote on X.
Even Jerod Mayo teased doing the same, saying:
"One hundred percent, I think he is ready to run a huddle."
Former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak slams Drake Maye's comparisons to Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers
Many will say that if sitting Drake Maye behind Jacoby Brissett is Jerod Mayo's plan, it will be no different from how Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love spent their rookie seasons in Green Bay. However, one person who disagreed with this notion is former quarterback Scott Zolak.
Speaking on his 98.5 The Sports Hub show with Marc Bertrand, Zolak said:
"Jordan Love sat behind the reigning MVP of the league in Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers sat and played behind Brett Farve, legend and Hall of Famer. Those aren’t comparable situations. Stop with those. I am sick of them."
He added that a more apt comparison would be the Cincinnati Bengals' QB situation in 2003. Having been drafted first overall, Carson Palmer sat behind eventual Comeback Player of the Year Jon Kitna as a rookie before taking up the starting job in 2004.