Insider shares how Patriots' Drake Maye has already improved

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo admitted shortly after the NFL Draft that rookie quarterback Drake Maye had "a lot to work on" amid a competition for the starting job with veteran Jacoby Brissett.

On Tuesday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared how Maye has already improved aspects of his game ahead of training camp.

"Where they see his progress most is when Maye is able to tie his feet to his throwing motion to the play call, so he’s playing in rhythm," Breer said about the Patriots. "It’s not consistent, which is to be expected, due to the ex-North Carolina signal-caller really having almost no footwork training prior to being drafted. But in those moments, he looks like a guy worthy of being taken with the third pick in the draft."

Analysts repeatedly touched upon Maye's footwork long before New England declined trade offers for the draft's third overall selection. It was subsequently reported that footwork and taking snaps under center were areas "of focus" for Maye.

Maye dazzled onlookers with his performance in Monday's practice, and Brissett said after that session that the first-year pro is "getting better" each day.

"Not only calling the plays, but footwork, throwing the ball, and his overall understanding of the offense," Brissett added about Maye.

It's believed Brissett will enter training camp atop New England's depth chart. Breer revealed what Mayo and company will want to see before they make Maye a QB1 for a meaningful game.

"How consistent his fundamentals become will likely determine how willing the team is to put him on the field, plus making sure the changes they’re making with a pretty raw prospect really take is paramount," Breer said. "And regression can happen fast, especially with a player who is out there before he’s ready."

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Maye eighth among the betting favorites at +2200 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2024. Earlier this week, Patriots legend and current NFL analyst Rodney Harrison suggested the club could sit Maye through at least the first six weeks of the upcoming regular season.