FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — First-year New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo stated veteran Jacoby Brissett is the workforce’s beginning quarterback coming into coaching camp as a result of he is probably the most “professional prepared,” however Mayo left the door open that rookie Drake Maye may overtake him.
“If he comes out right here and lights it up, it completely may occur,” Mayo stated in reference to Maye, the No. 3 general decide within the NFL draft. “However popping out of the spring, I do not suppose there may be any doubt — Jacoby is the beginning quarterback at this cut-off date.”
Mayo repeated a number of instances that he’s preaching competitors to his gamers in any respect positions, together with quarterback, the place the workforce has Brissett, Maye, third-year participant Bailey Zappe and 2024 sixth-round decide Joe Milton III.
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The Patriots signed Brissett, coming into his ninth NFL season, to a one-year, $8 million deal within the offseason whereas realizing they’d doubtless choose a quarterback within the draft. The technique, partly, was to have an skilled signal-caller who may preserve the workforce aggressive whereas not speeding a rookie’s growth.
Brissett has began 48 profession NFL video games and likewise performed within the offensive system being carried out by first-year offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt throughout the 2022 season with the Cleveland Browns.
“I believe it is clear that Jacoby is probably the most pro-ready man now we have,” Mayo stated prematurely of the workforce’s first official observe of coaching camp Wednesday.
Brissett, who was the primary participant to reply questions from reporters on the day gamers reported for coaching camp, plans to do all the things he can to carry on to the job.
“Clearly that is the finally aim and I do not take issues like that flippantly. However I perceive this league and I perceive how daily is a problem. It takes competitors and I stay up for that and feed off that. I am trying to go on the market and show it daily,” he stated.
Brissett and Maye have shortly developed a rapport — they’d beforehand met via Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell, a mutual buddy — and Brissett was requested what recommendation he would possibly give Maye coming into his first coaching camp.
“There isn’t any scholarships anymore. It is your job and that is what makes it so enjoyable — you get to go on the market and compete daily and also you perceive that any individual else is attempting to take your job,” he stated.
Mayo added that each state of affairs with a rookie quarterback has distinctive dynamics. He identified how Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, a 2020 first-round decide, sat behind Aaron Rodgers for 3 seasons earlier than rising as one of many NFL’s up-and-coming stars.
“There have additionally been conditions the place a man is available in proper now and he balls out,” Mayo stated, maybe referencing the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 general decide of the 2023 draft who was named AP Offensive Rookie of the 12 months. “We’ll see what occurs after we get out on the sector.”
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Maye has already appeared to be making regular strides. He opened spring camps taking repetitions behind Brissett and Zappe, however finally elevated to No. 2 and capped off necessary minicamp with a landing go to rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk on a 5-yard fade.
Mayo stated different issues on the roster — such because the offensive line and ability place gamers — would not be the first consideration in Maye ultimately turning into No. 1.
“It is not about everybody else. It is ‘Does this man go on the market and carry out higher than Jacoby?’ Regardless of who we’re speaking about,” he remarked.
Particular to Maye, he stated: “The aim for Drake is simply to get higher each day. It is not a straight line as much as the highest. There might be ups and downs. If he comes out right here and takes full benefit, and lights it up, he could possibly be the Day 1 quarterback.”
