The New England Patriots received their man. After watching the Mac Jones (and, to a lesser extent, Bailey Zappe) experiments fail, they badly wanted a quarterback to kick off the post-Invoice Belichick period. They discovered one in Drake Maye, the North Carolina stud who slipped to the third decide of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Maye joined former and present Patriot Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart, giving New England a veteran mentor and potential excessive worth alternative passer who might begin the season. However regardless of a comparatively gradual begin, it’s clear Maye brings extra to the desk than the journeyman with whom he’s competed for snaps.
He’s received loads of points to work out, actually, however his athleticism and skill to create massive positive factors downfield create a way of optimism the Pats have lacked the final two seasons.
This landing was negated by (ANOTHER) penalty on Okorafor, however what. a. throw by Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/gPxLgkY0fT
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) August 26, 2024
And that’s why New England could not begin him to start 2024.
The 2024 Patriots are simply dangerous sufficient to irreparably injury Drake Maye
New England is within the midst of an arduous rebuild. The franchise has a handful of younger constructing blocks, however lacks the playmakers or depth to really contend this fall. Maye might change that, however not on his personal.
Sadly, this preseason has hammered house the actual fact the blocking assist he wants received’t be there.
.@thekjhenry wasted no time 💪
📺 #NEvsWAS NBC pic.twitter.com/55yfmeTGiW
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 26, 2024
That’s not Maye behind heart, nevertheless it’s a strong encapsulation of the Patriots’ offensive line proper now. Head coach Jerod Mayo has resorted to sliding Mike Onwenu from his finest place (guard) to deal with to deal with the actual fact his different edge protectors — Chukwuma Okorafor (launched by the Pittsburgh Steelers final 12 months), Caedan Wallace (third spherical rookie) and Vederian Lowe (2022 sixth rounder traded from the Minnesota Vikings) — are every underwhelming in their very own methods.
In three preseason video games, New England’s quarterbacks have been sacked or hit 18 occasions in 109 dropbacks, which fails to inform the story of an offensive line persistently gashed by opponents’ second- and third-string defenders. Whereas Mayo hasn’t thrown anybody underneath the bus, you don’t categorical your eagerness for different groups’ cutdown day scraps if issues are going properly.
Jerod Mayo on @WEEI in regards to the Patriots’ offensive line and having the third declare on the waiver wire this week: “We’ve got a possibility to enhance our group by means of the waiver wire, and we’re in a really distinctive state of affairs proper now the place we’re third on the waiver wire, and there’ll…
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 26, 2024
Promising quarterbacks have been derailed by fixed stress of their rookie years. This reverse diamond course of turned guys like David Carr (an NFL document 76 sacks as a rookie) and Tim Sofa (56 sacks as a rookie) into coal regardless of lofty draft statuses. Their groups made a single playoff look (a Cleveland Browns Wild Card loss) between them within the 5 years after taking a passer first general.
Want a newer instance? Justin Fields’ profession 12.4 % sack price is partially his fault due to a penchant for scrambling into dangerous conditions, nevertheless it’s additionally a operate of what was a foul offensive line his first two seasons. Now he’s set to again up a damaged Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh. Earlier than Blake Bortles was a The Good Place punchline he was a 3rd general decide who led the league in sacks taken his first two seasons as a professional. The training curve is tough sufficient with out having to concentrate on footwork or processing routes while 300 pound males are relentlessly bearing down on you.
However Maye might spin this hay into gold if he can keep upright
The counter to this argument is that Maye, footwork points apart, has made progress working by means of stress. In opposition to Washington, he discovered room to step up within the pocket and both make sound throws downfield or escape and use his above-average pace to create further yardage.
Some very spectacular performs by Drake Maye on that drive.
– 17-yard scramble on third-and-14
– Cross-body completion to Polk for 29 yards
– 16-yard completion to Douglas on third-and-8 pic.twitter.com/UHSLSAZmvV— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) August 26, 2024
It’s solely the preseason, however he’s been in a position to elevate a younger receiving corps in stretches — albeit in opposition to backup defenses. The Patriots will rely closely on wideouts like Demario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk this season, particularly with veterans like Kendrick Bourne and Hunter Henry damage early. That’s not superb — it is a group that would actually, actually use a longtime veteran to to elevate its younger quarterback a la Stefon Diggs with the Buffalo Payments or DeAndre Hopkins with the Arizona Cardinals — however when you squint exhausting sufficient you’ll be able to see the way it works.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has additionally made it some extent to convey his rookie quarterback alongside slowly. You possibly can see the development by means of the preseason, as Maye was given a litany of quick throws early earlier than being given the inexperienced mild to take extra dangers and step into larger throws (and runs) because the exhibition season wore on.
Drake Maye on third down this preseason pic.twitter.com/J4jT9CTXGI
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) August 26, 2024
That is Mayo’s conundrum. Maye’s growth has been regular. His capacity to suit throws right into a bucket downfield or scramble for clutch yardage is a trait decidedly absent from the final three seasons of Patriots soccer. The potential of a franchise quarterback is there, even when it’s extra theoretical than precise for the time being.
A gentle stream of blitzes and sacks can destroy that concept. It might additionally create the sport expertise and relationship together with his wideouts that engineer a turnaround in Foxborough quicker than anybody might have anticipated. With the preseason within the rear view, it seems Mayo continues to be deciding however presumably leaning towards his rookie gunslinger.
.@dougkyed requested Jerod Mayo about beginning a rookie QB too early (together with behind a leaky OL).
“I believe each state of affairs is exclusive. I don’t wish to fall into this narrative fallacy, as a result of you could have seen rookie quarterbacks go on the market and carry out at a excessive degree,” Mayo mentioned.
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) August 26, 2024
Fortuitously for Mayo, he’s a primary 12 months head coach who is very regarded by the group for which he as soon as performed. He’ll have the group’s assist regardless that any first 12 months struggles. However no resolution will loom bigger in his nascent teaching profession than when Maye takes the sector.
Get it proper, and the Patriots’ rebuild drops into gear. Get it improper and, properly… we talked about these late-90s Browns and Texans groups, proper?
