Rookie quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to his first NFL touchdown during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, told Bleacher Report. However, Patriots fans eager to see more of the third overall pick might have to wait. The team appears to be handling Maye with caution, considering the less-than-ideal circumstances surrounding the rookie.
The Patriots have not given Maye a starting role in the preseason and are unlikely to do so in Week 1 of the regular season. Despite the clamor for Maye to take the reins, it seems Patriots fans will have to wait, hopefully and patiently, for his full debut.
Maye’s performance on Thursday night was a step forward from his limited appearance in the preseason opener. The rookie completed 6-of-11 passes for 47 yards over two quarters and showcased his athleticism with a touchdown run on a read-option play near the goal line. Patriots fans, accustomed to a more traditional quarterback style, were introduced to Maye’s ability to make plays with his legs.
While Maye’s overall performance was solid, it wasn’t without its flaws. He missed a few throws, including a high pass on a second-and-11 play, and his best pass of the night—a deep throw to rookie Javon Baker—fell incomplete as Baker just missed a diving catch. Despite the missed connection, the throw itself was a promising sign of Maye’s potential.
The Patriots’ decision to limit Maye’s playing time may be tied to the team’s issues with depth, particularly on the offensive line. Head coach Jerod Mayo has indicated that the team wants Maye to work primarily with the starting line, which suggests concerns about the protection a rookie quarterback might receive. This is likely why veteran Jacoby Brissett is expected to start the season as New England’s quarterback. Brissett, who started Thursday’s game, played three series and demonstrated why he is considered a temporary solution rather than a long-term answer.
Maye’s first series of the game was promising, highlighted by a key third-and-5 completion to Baker for a first down under heavy pressure. Later in the drive, Maye made another impressive throw, though it was ultimately incomplete as Baker was forced out of bounds. The drive ended in a field goal—a decent result given the circumstances.
As the Patriots rotated their offensive linemen, the playcalling for Maye became more conservative, focusing on short passes and runs to protect the young quarterback. Maye began the second half with a fumbled snap and a couple of throwaways under pressure, which negatively impacted his stats. A third-and-10 sack ended his night on a sour note.
Evaluating Maye’s potential is difficult until the Patriots give him more playing time in the regular season. For now, he hasn’t shown enough to draw any sweeping conclusions. However, he represents a bright spot in what looks to be a challenging season for New England. With Brissett as the likely starter and the Patriots’ offense struggling in joint practices against the Eagles, fans may find little to be excited about this season.
But Maye offers hope. Eventually, he will get his chance, and the Patriots will look to him to lead the team out of its current struggles. When the time comes for Maye to take over, fans will finally see if New England has found its quarterback of the future.
I am SO disappointed Javon Baker didn't come down with this. What a gorgeous throw by Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/LTQw0sGRfO
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) August 16, 2024
Rookie to rookie.
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2024
Drake Maye finds Javon Baker to move the sticks ➡️
📺: #PHIvsNE on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6hNa58n3jv
Maye 🤝 Hurts pic.twitter.com/LI5mKyAeVY
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2024