Drake Maye's short preseason debut proves Patriots need to make a change

The Patriots' first 2024 pre-season game is over, a 17-3 win. That's the good news. Unfortunately, there's lots of bad news and ominous signs accompanying it. NFL pundits are down on the Pats, and for good reason. Their offense is, at best, a work in progress.

A view here that's now getting widespread coverage is the sorry state of the Patriots offensive line. The best thing to say about the tackle situation is that it's "offensive." While that state of affairs warrants a lot of separate attention, it does impact the whole offense dramatically and, subsequently, the whole team's fortunes.

This article will center on the only position more important than the O-line: the quarterback position or unit. It will further concentrate on rookie third-pick overall Drake Maye and his development, including his brief appearance against the Panthers.

So let's go ahead and grade his performance anyway, as limited as it was.

Patriots' Drake Maye deserves the pre-season minutes

Maye played just two series and about six plays in the first pre-season game. The Patriots not only disappointed the paying customers at Gillette, but that decision drew the ire of Patriot Nation and the media generally. It was lousy for a whole host of reasons.

Maye, whether some wish to admit it or not, is the Patriots' best hope for a winning season in 2024, assuming they are looking to win. The other options are journeyman backup Jacoby Brissett and Joe Milton, the Pats' sixth-round pick.

Milton performed well against the other scrubs, but bet your money on Maye to be the long-term solution, no matter the hype. After such a considerable investment, Maye deserves to show what he can do with many reps. He's not getting many at all with the first team, either in practice or the first game. That's a huge blunder by Head Coach Jerod Mayo.

Other than to justify the ludicrous expenditure of $8M on Brissett, a journeyman backup quarterback, there is no reason to hold Maye out and back. Boston media people panned his lack of game against Carolina. Here's a Youtube example,

To further buttress that assertion, his performance in the brief cameo appearance solidified that viewpoint.

Drake Maye gets an A+ for his Panthers' cameo

Maye should be getting most of the first-team reps in practice and the rest of the pre-season. That being said, let's grade his performance against Carolina. As brief as it was, it was superb. Maye did everything expected and more.

He completed two screen passes perfectly, and both were good gainers, one for a first down and the other for solid yardage. Absent some foolish penalties by his offensive line, he may have had an opportunity to run a full drive and maybe score.

In addition, he drilled a nice pass over the middle to Jalen Raegor. The pass was a bit high, but a good receiver snagged it for a nice gain and a first down. It should have been caught. There were three passes, each on the money for Maye.

Yet, his most impressive aspect was his demeanor. Maye looked like a seasoned pro in his very first steps on a real NFL field. He exuded a confidence that defied his 21 years, which was evident from the get-go, and his execution of the two screens was flawless.

Maye looked every bit the part of a veteran signal-caller. He was unfazed by any butterflies he may have had, as any young NFL rookie is in his first game. Even absent his lofty draft status, his play against Carolina warranted an extended appearance. The Gillette crowd also shared their frustration with Mayo after he was pulled for Bailey Zappe.

His performance deserves, and he gets a high grade here, an A+. He was sound in every respect, throwing the ball, and his execution of the plays was veteran-like. Yet, it was his on-field poise and presence that impressed the most.

Drake Maye looked every bit the part of an immediate starter and a future NFL star in his cameo appearance against the Panthers. Add his strong arm, ability to make any throw, and running ability, and you have the makings of a quarterback who can win and win now. Maye should be given all the first-team reps from here on in. There shouldn't be any question whatsoever about it.

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