EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Drake Maye dropped back and in less than 1.4 seconds the pocket collapsed. That’s why the rookie ran out to the left and through the Patriots offensive line.
The No. 3 overall pick made it 1 yard from the line of scrimmage when he got spun around. That’s when Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood slammed into Maye with a closeline of a tackle.
Welcome to the NFL, kid.
“I think it felt pretty good – to get a hit under my belt,” Maye said. “You always wonder, your first NFL hit – it happened in the preseason – but these are the ones that count. Kind of good to get that out of the way. I’ll feel good tomorrow.”
Maye was upbeat after making his NFL debut in the Patriots 24-3 loss to the New York Jets. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo even left the door open for Maye to potentially start in place of veteran Jacoby Brissett.
But after seeing both Maye and Brissett get beat up by the Jets defense, there is no way the Patriots should remotely consider starting the rookie. If anything, Patriots fans should thank their lucky stars that Brissett is on this 2024 Patriots team.
On Thursday night, Brissett looked like the sacrificial lamb. He was sacked a season-high five times and hit a season-high 12 times. In Maye’s one series, the rookie was sacked twice. He was also hit three times in nine dropbacks.
“We just beat pretty handedly. I’d say right now everything is a concern,” Mayo. “The offensive line, you want those guys to be able to go out there as a unit and gel together. But whether through injury or through whatever it is, we just haven’t found the right combination.”
As seen against the Jets, the Patriots are a far cry away from supporting a young quarterback.
Maye’s draws positive reviews
Maye’s debut wasn’t perfect.
His first NFL pass was nearly intercepted by Jets cornerback Michael Carter II. Two plays later, he was hit hard by a Jets linebacker. Not long after that, he was sacked for a loss of 8 yards. On his final snap, Maye was sacked again – 7 yards away from the end zone – as the clock hit zero.
Despite the circumstances, Maye’s teammates were happy to see the rookie on the field. That included DeMario Douglas. With 43 seconds left, on fourth-and-10, the receiver caught a 15-yard pass from Maye to keep the drive alive.
“It was good seeing him out there just getting a feel of a regular season game,” Douglas said. “He’s been doing good. He’s been doing what he’s supposed to be doing.”
“I think he’s doing good overall,” Michael Onwenu added. “Obviously, it’s not good circumstances for him to come in – especially with how our performance was. I think he kept it under control and led us down the field during a 2-minute drive.”
This season, Maye’s received 30% of the starting reps in practice. That’s part of the Patriots developmental plan to bring him along slowly. After the game, Mayo said the organization would go back to watch the team’s loss to the Jets and evaluate the quarterback position.
When asked if they might make a change at quarterback, Mayo didn’t rule it out.
“I don’t know,” he said. “We talk about it every single week. You’re competing for a job. So, we’ll get together as a coaching staff and see where it goes.”
Whenever Maye does start, the Patriots will be more exciting. You saw that on Thursday.
After taking his first sack, for a loss of 8 yards, Maye’s unit was in a second-and-18 hole. Two plays later, on fourth-and-8, the Jets pushed through the right side of the Patriots offensive line. That’s when Maye ran out of the pocket for 11 yards and a first down.
“Can’t take sacks in that situation, but at the same time, we had some first downs, moved the chains, made a play with my feet, and hit Pop over the middle,” Maye said. “So, there’s good things to look at.”
Starting Maye would do more harm than good
What’s happening in Chicago is also a good example of why Maye shouldn’t start. Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, was sacked seven times in the Bears’ 19-13 loss to Houston. Through two weeks, Williams led the NFL in the amount of times he was sacked (nine).
We’ll see if that number changes after this weekend. On Thursday night, the Patriots offensive line allowed 15 quarterback hits and seven sacks.
For Brissett, it didn’t seem fair. The veteran quarterback was battered – and likely bruised throughout Thursday night. This season, he’s had a special ability to extend plays with his legs and make up for the lack of pass protection, but anything short of Michael Vick wasn’t going to help the Patriots inside MetLife Stadium.
On Thursday night, Brissett was hit on 52% of his dropbacks. Out of Brissett’s five sacks, three came on third down.
“It’s not good,” center David Andrews said. “It’s not good, and we have to be better up front. We’re gonna work and we’re gonna try to do everything we can to be better. That’s not sustainable and that’s not winning football.”
The Patriots have multiple issues when it comes to their offensive line. They’re down multiple starters (left tackle Vederian Lowe and left guard Sidy Sow), started multiple rookies (Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson) and haven’t had a consistent lineup that’s been allowed to grow together dating back to the offseason.
There’s also an obvious talent issue. Other than Andrews and Michael Onwenu, the Patriots lack proven offensive linemen.
The Patriots need to figure out their offensive line before throwing a rookie quarterback to the wolves.
Maye’s potential is obvious
The Patriots were a little under an hour and 20 minutes from kickoff on Thursday night when Maye was practicing.
At 6:55 p.m., the rookie would take a handoff from a team staff and do one of two things. Either he’d fake a handoff or pretend like that was a pass rush incoming. That’s when Maye would roll out to the right and throw on the run.
Each time he did this, Maye showcased special athleticism inside of a near-empty MetLife Stadium. He moved effortlessly as he ran out of the pocket and then launched a football over 40 yards in the air to fellow rookie receiver Javon Baker.
Before that, around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Maye stood near the Jets sideline and was throwing the ball the width of the football field to a Patriots equipment manager. For those who don’t know, the width of a football field is just over 53 yards.
While speaking on the NFL on Prime Video broadcast, Patriots owner Robert Kraft gushed over Maye.
“There were three great quarterbacks in the draft and the one we wanted came to us,” Kraft said. “I’m really excited.”
Maye has special abilities. That’s why the Patriots are taking their time with him.
After turning 22 last month, he’s also the youngest player on the Patriots roster. This offseason, the Patriots came up with a developmental plan that allows Maye to mature in the team’s system before being put out on the field too soon.
For Maye, there were some positive moments hidden behind this blowout loss to the Jets on Thursday. In that one drive, the Patriots ran 16 plays and gained 46 yards. With Maye under center, it was the team’s longest drive. With Brissett, the Patriots only scoring drive was an 8-play, 16-yard drive, aided by 50 yards of Jets penalties. Brissett’s longest drive, yards-wise, was 35 yards.
However, there were also some clear signs that the 2024 Patriots aren’t ready to play behind a rookie quarterback. That’s why they should start Brissett – and why the Patriots should be thankful the veteran is in New England.
“I’m a big man I can take it,” Brissett said when asked about the hits. “One thing about me is I’m going to always get back up.”
That’s why the Patriots need him more than ever.
