These Mac Jones-Drake Maye Patriots Discussions Should Be Clarified

The New England Patriots have a decision to make after an improved camp from a rookie quarterback.

They’ve had the dilemma a few times in recent years and while there’s similarities, it’s important to recognize the differences and not connect every scenario under the rookie quarterback cloud.

The Patriots opened a new chapter this offseason, entering a rebuild and committing to the future by selecting Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye went through the summer with the veteran presence of Jacoby Brissett by his side, who had been presumed to be the starter.

Now, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo has a decision to make after Maye seemingly leapt Brissett in terms of production over the final two games of preseason play for the Patriots.

In this sense, it’s not too different of the story that played out three summers ago.

New England faced a hard transition after the 2019 season when legendary quarterback Tom Brady departed and left the team to fend in a COVID-impacted, financially restrictive 2020 season. A year later, the Patriots selected Alabama product Mac Jones with the No. 15 overall pick. With veteran and former NFL MVP Cam Newton as the incumbent, Jones played his way to the starting job.

Jones tossed 22 touchdown passes that season as the Patriots went 10-7 and returned to the playoffs. From there, the once-outstanding rookie completely fell of the map over the next two years. New England shipped him to the Jacksonville Jaguars before bringing in Brissett and Maye. Jones has made the most of the change of scenery with a fine preseason for the Jaguars.

Back in Foxboro, there’s plenty of factors that could determine how New England’s decision-makers will weigh the benefits of Maye winning the starting job for Week 1. Championship quarterbacks such as Brady and Patrick Mahomes sat their rookie years and gained valuable experience under veterans.

Some insiders around the team such as NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran suggested that the fall of Jones could factor into how the Patriots move forward with Maye. If they choose to sit the North Carolina product due to his youth (still just 21 years old) or an unsafe offensive line to play behind, that’s one thing.

At the end of the day, Jones and Maye are in totally different spots entering their respective rookie seasons with the Patriots.

Jones, almost a year older than Maye as a rookie, had pieces around him and entered New England’s system at the right time. So his rookie status was not what led to his demise and therefore should not be the mindset the Patriots adopt if Maye sits.

Instead, Jones declined from a lack of improved weapons and more importantly, the insertion of two coaches in Matt Patricia and Joe Judge that overthrew his development without extensive offensive coaching backgrounds in the sport. That shattered Jones’ confidence last season with the Patriots that led to the end of his New England tenure.

Maye’s situation is shaped far more by what’s around him, leading to an important decision for the Patriots.

In that context, of course there’s similarities between the entrances to Gillette Stadium for Jones and Maye. However, the Patriots should recognize the fear of a poor situation for Maye comes in a far different manner than his predecessor.