New England Patriots fans already have big expectations for incoming rookie quarterback Drake Maye, but former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich wants everyone to dial it back.
During a recent episode of The Dan and Ninko Show, Ninkovich said that Patriots fans need to take it one step at a time heading into 2024, as Maye may very well end up sitting behind Jacoby Brissett during his rookie campaign.
“We also need some patience,” Ninkovich said (h/t Carlos Talks Pats). “Let’s have some patience because we don’t want to be sitting October 1st, and every radio station, every article in Boston is writing that we have a third overall pick sitting and he needs to be on the field right now.”
Maye is unquestionably viewed as New England’s quarterback of the future, but it may be some time before we actually see him take the field.
The Pats signed Brissett in free agency, bringing him back for a second go-around in Foxborough. Allowing Brissett to take the reins under center at the start of next season is probably a good idea, especially given how limited the Patriots are offensively overall.
New England is very short on weapons, as it struck out on Calvin Ridley in free agency and really only has Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn as dependable wide receivers. The Pats did take University of Washington wide out Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round, but he has yet to prove anything yet.
The last thing the Patriots want is another Mac Jones situation, where Maye comes in and has his confidence wrecked because of a few bad games in the early going.
For now, it’s probably best for New England to roll out Brissett and have Maye learn under him for a bit. You don’t want Maye struggling out of the gate, especially behind a very porous offensive line.
Many Pats fans are going to want Maye to start right off the bat, and that’s understandable. But for the betterment of the team’s future, the Patriots would likely be better off sitting Drake Maye for an extended period of time in order to protect him and preserve him for the long haul.
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