Patriots camp battles: Setting the stage for Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett
How much of a ‘quarterback battle’ will there really be between Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett this summer at Patriots training camp?
Finally, we get to the story of the summer. Our Patriots camp battle preview wraps up with a look at the Patriots quarterback position. This projects to be the third time in five years the Patriots have a quarterback position battle in training camp, after Cam Newton-Jarrett Stidham in 2020 and Newton-Mac Jones in 2021. Now, it’s Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett in 2021.
However, that doesn’t mean the previous two position battles are any kind of foreshadowing. That was a different coaching staff making decisions, and the new group will most likely handle things differently.
The real question at the top of the depth chart is how much the rest of the offense dictates the coaching staff’s timeline for Maye. Even if he outperforms Brissett, will they make the switch if the offensive line looks like a mess, or the wide receiver play isn’t up to the expectation?
That’s not to say how things go between Maye and Brissett is irrelevant. Maye can certainly help himself with a strong performance. Even if the coaching staff isn’t comfortable starting him right away, the better he performs this summer the more pressure there will be to get him in real games.
![Jun 12, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and quarterback Jacob y Brissett (14) throw passes at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2024/06/USATSI_23529363-1_1718212365_.jpg?resize=1024,774)
For Maye, the biggest opportunities will come in padded practices, the joint practice, and of course the preseason. For many rookie quarterbacks, the biggest hurdle to clear is remaining effective against the pressure of an NFL pass rush. This spring, Maye showed how he can throw the ball around the field from a clean pocket. The quickest way for him to prove he’s ready for game action will be to do the same with defenders in his face.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that the starting quarterback battle isn’t the only one at the position. NFL teams rarely keep four quarterbacks, which means most likely at least one of Bailey Zappe or Joe Milton will end up on the outside looking in.
Zappe saw his reps decrease as the spring went on, and it’s tough to find a place for him in the Patriots’ quarterback room that already has a veteran mentor and potential future franchise quarterback. That being said, given the value of the quarterback position, could he re-open the door with a strong performance this summer.
Patriots training camp preview podcast w/Alex Barth & Matt Dolloff
(Click here to subscribe to Patriots Audio on 98.5 The Sports Hub.)
Then there’s Milton, who is a project player who was drafted in the sixth round. He could be a practice squad candidate, but if he plays well enough the team may lose that option and have to decide whether or not they want to keep him on the 53-man roster as a long-term investment.
Of course, there’s a chance neither Zappe nor Milton make the team. If that happens, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots go out and add a third quarterback, similar to what they did last year with the revolving door of Trace McSorley, Matt Corral, Will Grier, and Nathan Rourke.
Keep scrolling for more Patriots training camp previews…