Patriots' Jerod Mayo shares massive Drake Maye starting update

Since the start of springtime workouts, numerous reporters and analysts have predicted that the New England Patriots would start veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett over rookie Drake Maye largely because Maye was viewed as a work in progress who wouldn't be "ready" to face a live defense in a meaningful game by September. 

The situation has changed heading into New England's preseason finale at the Washington Commanders this coming Sunday. 

"One hundred percent," Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo responded when asked Wednesday if he'd be comfortable starting Maye for the Week 1 game at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8, as NESN's Keagan Stiefel shared. "I think he's ready to run a huddle." 

Mayo was sure to add that he's still holding a "competition" for the starting job and that Brissett "is still QB1."

Maye reportedly showed drastic improvement "in recent weeks" before thoroughly outperforming Brissett in last Thursday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, Patriots/NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted on Monday that the club still questioned at that time if Maye could "deal with being a week-in, week-out starting quarterback without the rigors of the season messing with his development." 

If that's no longer a worry for Mayo and Co., it seems likely that Maye will get the nod for the Cincinnati matchup unless he looks wholly lost facing what should be a defense made up of second and third-team players at Commanders Field this weekend.

"I think anyone can see the confidence growing in Drake, and anyone can see Jacoby go out here, and as a total body of work, do a good job," Mayo added on Wednesday. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the 2024 Patriots as +900 betting underdogs to make the playoffs. Such forecasts serve as a reminder that New England probably isn't a quarterback change away from competing for much of note from September through January 2025. 

Patriots and NFL legend Tom Brady recently argued that teams should let prospects for the future — such as Maye — develop as unused rookie backups. Still, it sounds like Mayo could go in a different direction sooner than some thought.