Last Thursday night, the New England Patriots faced the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. New England got throttled 24-3, but the score could have been much worse. The offense could not get going from the start as there were struggles at every position. Jacoby Brissett went 12 for 18 with only 98 passing yards and no touchdowns. In his first three games this season, Brissett has continued to show that he is limited at a quarterback. Brissett signed a one-year $10 million deal this off-season to be the bridge quarterback, so their rookie QB can develop. The Patriots drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick and, according to head coach Jerod Mayo, Maye outplayed Brissett in both training camp and the preseason.
Despite a shocking win for New England in week one, the Patriots have taken a step back in weeks two and three, leading many to call for Maye to be named the starting quarterback. However, many also say the team should hold off on starting Maye due to the Patriots’ dreadful offensive line. This column will address the question of whether the Patriots should give the starting nod to the rookie.
When considering whether to start Maye or not, it is important to look at what is around him. The Patriots have one of the youngest and most inexperienced offenses in the NFL. Their biggest strengths are their running back Rhamondre Stevenson and center David Andrews. The weaknesses are a much longer list. To sum it up, their receiving core is ranked dead last in the NFL, as well as their offensive line in offensive production. In their week tw game against the Seahawks, only one Patriots wide receiver had a reception. In week three, DeMario “Pop” Douglas had 69 receiving yards, and the rest of the team had 29 . Tight end Hunter Henry had eight catches for 109 yards in week two, but his opportunities have been lacking the rest of the season. For the core to improve, rookie Ja’Lynn Polk will need to step up, as will former second-round pick Tyquan Thornton. The core will likely take years to develop and likely won’t be good enough this season.
The offensive line is usually the QB’s best friend on the team. But in Brissett and Maye’s case, it may be their worst enemy. In three games, the offensive line has allowed pressure on 46 percent of drop backs, the most in the NFL. Injuries have also hampered the line, with starters Cole Strange and Sidy Sow sidelined since mid-training camp. Their backups have also dealt with injuries. The left tackle position is invisible and is the team’s biggest question mark and, for whatever reason, this was not addressed in the offseason. Brissett has been hit more than any QB in the league, and the passing game is non-existent because of it. Maye entered the Jets game for one drive and was immediately slammed to the ground a few plays in.
Maye’s exceptional resume at North Carolina and his stellar preseason led both Patriots and NFL fans to be eager for him to start as his only drawbacks are his youth and inexperience. Though, Brissett has been a career journeyman who started his career after being drafted by the Patriots and is known for being a great leader who doesn’t commit turnovers. His drawback is his lack of big-play ability. There are many pros and cons for each signal caller to start or sit, but with the position the Patriots are in, their future should be the priority.
The Patriots entered the season ranked last in nearly every power ranking and are amongst the youngest teams in the NFL. They also traded their best player, Matthew Judon, in August, seemingly knowing this was a rebuilding year. With this being the case and having potentially both the worst offensive line and wide receiving core in football, the decision should be made with the future at the forefront. Therefore, Drake Maye should sit this season to save himself from injuries and shattered confidence.