Jacoby Brissett’s impact
The Patriots find themselves heading into the 2024 season with one of the lowest projected win totals in the league depending on where you look its 4.5 or 5.5. An unfamiliar place for the Patriots over the last 20+ years but this year isn’t so much about wins and losses for New England as it is about setting a good foundation and finding out about the players on the roster and the coach.
Jerod Mayo is heading into his first year as a head coach in the NFL and while his team has a highly touted rookie QB waiting in the wings this year will be more about Mayo’s coaching than Maye’s actual play on the field. As for Maye I believe he’s set up in a pretty good place in New England in large part due to sitting behind Jacoby Brissett. Brissett is a consummate professional heading into his 9th season in the NFL in which he’s mostly been a back up. Now he finds himself as the starter for the Patriots, a role he’s somewhat unfamiliar with. However Brissett has stepped up for multiple teams when their quarterbacks have been out for long periods of time and acquitted himself well in the league.
For me and I think a lot of Patriots fans Brissett will be viewed with a fair lens because he is not seen as the quarterback of the future and is just a place holder for Drake Maye. While this sounds like a dig at Brissett I believe him to be one of the better mentors in the league because of his professionalism and ability to command a locker room and the respect of his teammates things that Maye can greatly learn from.
It’s not sexy or exciting to head into an NFL season excited that your quarterback may be a better mentor than an actual player but for the Patriots this is reality right now. Brissett’s play on the field will matter this season but his mentorship and professionalism could pay dividends long term in the development of Drake Maye.
None of Brissett’s mentorship will matter if Maye flat out can’t play but as far as landing spots in the NFL go I believe Maye to be in a much better spot than guys like Bryce Young who the Patriots could see on Thursday night. Another tough spot for a young quarterback is Bo Nix in Denver who finds himself in a QB room with Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. Sorry Patriots fans I know this isn’t as exciting as actually winning games but rebuilds take time and every small advantage you can give your young quarterback matters and giving Maye a good mentor is a good first step for the Patriots.
