Drake Maye’s Patriots chance is coming sooner rather than later

Drake Maye’s time as starting quarterback is a matter of when — and not if — this season.

That’s according to Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer, who wrote Monday that Maye’s appearance in mop-up time for the Patriots against the Jets was “another step” in the organization’s plan of having the rookie succeed Jacoby Brissett.

“My understanding is that the plan is for that to happen at some point in 2024—this won’t be a full-on redshirt year,” Breer wrote.

“They’ll be patient. But Maye’s progress has gotten to the point where the expectation is he’ll earn his way on to the field relatively soon, with the one caveat being that the Patriots’ offense will have to show (as it did against the Cincinnati Bengals, then didn’t against the Jets) that it can play the way it needs to in order to support a rookie quarterback.”

The report said that Maye’s footwork has been improving and that he’s “played better in rhythm, quickened the pace getting through progressions, and was getting rid of the ball faster as the summer transitioned to the regular season.”

The Patriots selected Maye third overall in this year’s NFL draft, after the Bears picked Caleb Williams and the Commanders drafted Jayden Daniels.

Before the season, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo seemed to indicate that Maye was outplaying Brissett.

However, New England has a beleaguered offensive line, so it is understandable if it wants Maye to get some more seasoning in practice, and also to expose him to fewer hits in his rookie year.

After stunning the Bengals in their season opener, the Patriots lost an overtime game to the Seahawks and then were handily beaten 24-3 by the Jets on Thursday.