Patriots camp battles: Setting the stage for Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett

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. 

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.

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...

Football is just about back in Foxborough. New England Patriots training camp begins on July 24, as the team gets ready for the 2024 season. 

For those following along, the big story of training camp is often the position and roster battles taking place. There are certainly no shortage of battles on the Patriots’ roster this year. 

Position and roster battles can be used interchangeably at times, but they are two different things. Position battles are between players at the same position who are both/all expected to make the team and at the same position, competing for a higher spot on the depth chart. 

Meanwhile, roster battles are between players - either from the same position or different positions - outright battling for a spot on the 53-man roster. This relates to the concept of the roster bubble and ‘at-large’ roster spots, which we usually get into once camp is underway. The battles can last all the way through camp, and now with the new practice squad elevation rules can even continue into September. 

Throughout this week, we’ll be highlighting the closest and most important position and roster battles in Patriots training camp this year. Each battle will have its own breakdown (which will be linked in this post once it's posted), but here’s an overview of the positions we’ll be focusing on. 

Between Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, the top of the Patriots’ running back depth chart is set. But even from a realistically optimistic outlook, it takes more than two players to get through a season at a position as physically demanding and injury-prone as running back.

In past years it’s mainly been Kevin Harris in that third running back role, either from on the active roster or as a practice squad elevation. He’s back to compete again this year, but the team has two similar downhill backs in UDFAs Deshaun Fenwick and Terrell Jennings who could compete4 for the role. The door is also certainly open for veteran JaMycal Hasty, who got plenty of reps this spring after finishing last season on the Patriots’ active roster. Hasty is a faster, quicker back who can also make plays in the passing game and has significant special teams experience.

Full running back breakdown here

Heading into camp, Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, and Marcus Jones all roster locks. Coming off of his impressive performance in spring practices, Alex Austin seems to be a near-lock as well. That's the top of the depth chart, but who will provide the depth?

There’s a crowded group behind those four looking to fill out the one or two depth cornerback spots left on the roster. That group includes some familiar names. Isaiah Bolden was making a roster push last year before suffering a concussion late in the preseason that landed him on IR. Shaun Wade and Marco Wilson are also back to compete for roster spots after spending time with the team last year (as is 2023 practice squad member Azizi Hearn, who stood out in minicamp).

Some rookies will compete here too. Sixth-round pick Marcellas Dial fits the prototype of a Patriots boundary cornerback. UDFA Mikey Victor is another player to watch - he has a unique size/speed makeup, closed the spring strong, and was getting some special teams reps.

Full cornerback breakdown here

Time to go back to the top of the cornerback depth chart. Jonathan Jones is the real pivot player here. Will stay on the boundary opposite Gonzalez, where he’s played the past two seasons? Or will he move back into the slot where he excelled to start his career?

The picture is a little cleaner if Jones moves back to the slot. He’d be there, with Alex Austin the favorite for the second boundary spot. If Jones kicks back outside, Austin becomes the third rotational boundary corner with the slot then becoming the key question between Marcus Jones, Isaiah Bolden, or other depth players.

Full cornerback breakdown here

Heading into camp there are four projected roster locks at wide receiver - Kendrick Bourne (assuming he’s healthy and cleared to start the season, which Jerod Mayo suggested at the end of minicamp is expected), Pop Douglas, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Given the $3.1 million guaranteed in K.J. Osborn’s contract, he’s a near-lock as well.

Pending injury, that could be the Patriots' full initial wide receiver room. But there are still some well-known names left, either trying to prove they're worth the team keeping a sixth receiver, or battling for a spot that opens due to injury. That group includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Reagor.

Full wide receiver breakdown here

If you missed it, we actually covered the outlook of the Patriots’ kicker position after minicamp ended last month. Neither Chad Ryland nor Joey Slye made an overwhelming case to earn the job, meaning things remain up in the air as training camp begins.

It will be a sprint to the finish at the kicker position. Can Ryland or Slye show notable improvement in training camp? If not, will the team bring another kicker in? That could be during camp, or even during final roster cuts.

Full kicker breakdown here

Not just tackles or guards. Not just starters or backups. Jobs across the offensive line and up and down the depth chart at these positions are open to be won in camp. That includes starting spots - both who and where - as well as backups. 

David Andrews will be back at center and the team seems committed to starting out with Chuks Okorafor at left tackle, but after that it's tough to pin anything down. Mike Onwenu will start somewhere, but will he be at tackle or guard? Which guard spot will Sidy Sow play? Where does third-round pick Caedan Wallace factor in? Who will be Okorafor's backup? All that and more will have to be sorted out over the next few weeks.

Full offensive line breakdown here

Even for those who think there is no chance for rookie Drake Maye to start Week 1, there's still plenty at stake in training camp this year. Getting a better idea of where he's at relative to Jacoby Brissett will go a long way in establishing the timetable for him taking over - even if Week 1 is off the table. Can he put pressure on the coaches to make the change sooner rather than later?

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.

Full quarterback breakdown here

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.