How the Patriots should handle their quarterbacks

For the 2024 season, the New England Patriots drastically altered the makeup of their quarterback room. 

In the offseason, the team traded former starter Mac Jones to Jacksonville, signed veteran Jacoby Brissett in free agency and selected two QBs — Drake Maye (first round, third overall) and Joe Milton III (sixth round, 193rd overall) — in the NFL Draft.

The changes raise important questions: What should the Patriots do with Bailey Zappe, the team's de facto starter for the latter half of the 2023 season? How should the depth chart be organized with the additions of Brissett and Milton? Is Maye the definitive starter?

Here's how New England should approach its QB situation:

Don't grant Maye a role he isn't ready for

In 2020, the Patriots entered training camp with a veteran (Cam Newton) and a first-round rookie (Jones) competing for the starting role.

Days before the regular season, the team named Jones the starter and released Newton. The subsequent seasons were marked by a steady decline for the team (10-7 record in 2021, then 8-9 and 4-13) and Jones, who regressed after offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' departure for the Las Vegas Raiders as head coach. 

Under the tutelage in 2022 of de facto offensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who had little experience coaching offense, Jones saw his completion percentage dip from 67.6 in 2021 to 65.2 and TD pass total decline from 22 to 14. 

In 2023, Jones went 2-9 as a starter and the team benched him in favor of Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round pick.

New England has a similar situation with Maye and Brissett. There is always pressure on teams to start a highly drafted rookie right away but learning from the Jones situation, the Patriots must prioritize Maye's steady development and not rush the 21-year-old.

When asked about his first impressions of Maye in a mini-camp news conference, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo said the QB has "a lot to work on." 

If Maye isn't ready to start entering the regular season, Mayo should sit the rookie and give Brissett the reins until the former North Carolina star is ready. There should be zero rush to start Maye for the Patriots, whom ESPN recently projected for 4.5 wins in 2024. 

The last thing New England needs is for another talented QB to take a confidence hit.  

Get rid of Zappe

With the hiring of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt earlier this offseason, the Patriots adopted a West Coast offense. 

Zappe's limited experience with this offensive scheme, as well as the talent and leadership advantages offered by Brissett — his main competitor for the second-string job — make releasing or trading the former Western Kentucky standout the best course.

Besides, in 14 games with New England, Zappe posted pedestrian stats (63.2 completion percentage, 2,053 passing yards). His future seems secure as an NFL backup, but not in New England. 

Keep Milton, find a (limited) role for him

Milton, 24, has a huge arm but didn't post impressive numbers in six seasons combined at Michigan and Tennessee (400-for-650, 5,353, 37 TD passes).