Patriots giving Drake Maye the keys to the offense is long overdue

Finally, after weeks of speculation, waiting, and, in many cases, impatience, New England Patriots fans will get what they’re waiting for when the team hosts the Houston Texans on Sunday. 

The Patriots' 2024 first-round draft pick Drake Maye will be under center for their Week 6 game and on starting this Sunday. 

After four straight defeats during which veteran Jacoby Brissett was mediocre at best, Maye will finally be handed the keys to the Patriots’ offense. While Brissett did an admirable job over the first five games, it’s pretty clear that this team needs a new direction at quarterback. And that couldn’t have been more evident during last Sunday’s putrid 15-10 loss to the just-as-putrid Miami Dolphins. 

That “effort” in which Brissett threw for only 160 yards, and the Patriots nearly had as many penalties (12) as first downs (13) only led to fans and media alike hollering for Maye’s name more and more. Maye has seen the field during the season’s first quarter, having completed 4-of-8 passes for 50 yards while rushing for 16 more over the final four-plus minutes of a loss at the Jets in Week 3. 

Let’s face it. The Patriots' opening-week upset of the Cincinnati Bengals proved to be a mirage during their current four-game losing streak. The Patriots' way of beating the Bengals is not sustainable in the modern NFL. 

Yes, we all know the Patriots’ offensive line has had its struggles. Yes, we all know the wide receiver room doesn’t exactly remind us of those of the past that featured Randy Moss and Julian Edelman. But head coach Jerod Mayo, who appeared to be on the verge of losing his locker room, has to wonder, what do I have to lose at this point? 

And we also have to wonder how much the Patriots’ third overall selection in this spring’s draft and what the organization hopes will be its next franchise quarterback was going to learn sitting on the bench watching Brissett dink and dunk the ball like a poor man’s Alex Smith? 

The Patriots made the right decision at the right time to make Drake Maye the starter

I understand the arguments not to play Maye, mainly the offensive line, which is as inconsistent a unit as it gets in the NFL. But to counter that, you also have to understand with Brissett running this offense, the Patriots were as vanilla as it gets. The wide receivers are growing understandably frustrated. Brissett just doesn’t have the ability to stretch the field. 

This is the National Football League. It’s not flag football. Guys are going to get hit. You can’t bubble-wrap Maye. The fan base can scream all they want to protect their valuable asset, but what is he going to learn sitting on the sidelines while the team is losing games? “Tanking” for a left tackle isn’t going to work. 

In the wake of the last two games in which the Patriots managed only 13 points, it’s inevitable that it was time for Maye to take over. If we’re going to keep rookie quarterbacks in saran wrap, should we just stick Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels on the bench too?

The latter of that duo has his Washington Commanders atop the NFC East through five games, and is a shoo-in for Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

Maye’s debut will come against a quality defense that has been one of the league’s best, as the Texans have surrendered just 867 yards passing - an average of 173.4 - over their first five games. Their pass rush has also been phenomenal, totaling 15 sacks. 

So you may be wondering, why throw the kid out there against THAT defense? 

It’s pretty simple. It’s time for a change. Maye is 6-foot-4, athletic, and has drawn comparisons to Josh Allen in terms of his combination of mobility in the pocket and strong arm. And this examination against a team that many predicted to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl before the season is a good first test for Maye. 

A new era in Foxborough is finally beginning on Sunday. And not a moment too soon.

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