Should Mayo Have Announced Patriots Starting QB Before Camp?

At the start of New England Patriots’ training camp, head coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged that Jacoby Brissett held the advantage to becoming the team’s starting quarterback to start the season. He said that Brissett was the most pro-ready. Mayo said there would be open competition for the job, though. He indicated that any of the team’s four quarterbacks in camp could emerge as the Patriots’ starting quarterback for Week 1.

Two questions for Jerod Mayo: First, was this statement true? And second, did the head coach do any favors to rookie QB Drake Maye, or even to Mayo himself, with his statement?

Boston Sports Radio took a negative slant on the situation, as they are known to do. The takes varied. None landed with a positive take on how the situation has been handled. A look at some of the ways this was discussed:

Jacoby Brissett Was Always Going to Be QB1

Some believe the decision to make Jacoby Brissett the starting QB happened before camp began. Maybe before the NFL Draft.

Brissett received the majority of “first team” reps from the start of camp. It should surprise nobody that he entered camp atop the depth chart. Mayo said as much from the start of camp.

Also Read: Training Camp Competition: Clarity on Patriots QB Pecking Order

“Coming out of the spring, I don’t think there is any doubt that Jacoby (Brissett) is the starting quarterback at this point time,” Mayo said on Day 1 of training camp. “When we get on the field this summer (in training camp) with the pads on, we’ll see what it’s all about. But coming out of the spring, Jacoby is the most pro-ready guy we have. He’s played a lot of football.”

When the Patriots put pads on for the first time last week, however, Brissett seemed to already have the starting job wrapped up. Their eps discrepancy was increasing. This confirmed to some that Brissett would be New England’s starter all along. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that being the team’s game plan. But if it was, why not come out and say so?

This is not a complaint against coaches keeping information close to the vest. They should do that. Some should do that more often. But not in this specific case. It created a negative narrative around Drake Maye that he could do without.

What’s Wrong With Drake Maye?

Mayo stated that anyone could win the starting quarterback job for the New England Patriots. As a result, it is a negative reflection on Drake Maye, in the eyes of some, that he cannot beat out an NFL journeyman. Brissett backed up Sam Howell for the Washington Commanders last season. Howell backs up Geno Smith with the Seattle Seahawks this year.

This should not be viewed as a poor reflection on Maye. Howell was entering his second season in 2023 and already had one NFL start (a win) under his belt. Furthermore, things did not work out well for Washington. The Commanders used the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to take QB Jayden Daniels from LSU, Howell’s replacement.

New England needs Drake Maye to be their long-term answer at quarterback. The results of his first training camp practices are not of primary importance. The only people these are important to are New England Patriots fans (and media) who believe Maye’s performances determine the team’s Week 1 starter.

So, nothing is wrong with Drake Maye. He’s experiencing the same early struggles that anyone who paid attention before camp should have expected. Maye was the No. 1 ranked player on the Patriots Football Now draft board, yet nothing seen so far is surprising or concerning from this perspective.

Mayo Wasn’t Fully Honest

It is possible Jerod Mayo told the truth when he said Maye could win the starting job if he “lights it up.” But Mayo stated the job was anyone’s to win.

“I tell you that Jacoby (Brissett) looks like the starting quarterback, but he’ll have competition. Let’s not forget about (Joe) Milton and (Bailey) Zappe. All the guys will be competing to start Week 1.”

Neither Bailey Zappe nor Joe Milton III will be the New England Patriots starting quarterback in Week 1. An outside possibility exists, in theory, if the unit suffers an injury or two, or three. Aside from that, it’s not happening.

Again, there is no issue with Jerod Mayo stretching the truth or motivating everyone to compete for starting spots. But it is worth remembering that not everything the head coach says should be accepted as gospel. But when it comes to Drake Maye, the future of the franchise, it is tougher to ignore.

Motivations for the Coaching Staff

Radio hosts harped on the need for the New England Patriots coaching staff to prove themselves in camp. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was singled out even more than Mayo in this regard. The idea was that if Drake Maye looked poor running Van Pelt’s system, which he said he would mold to the team’s personnel, it would be a poor reflection on the OC. And Van Pelt, who was not calling plays in Cleveland despite being the Browns’ offensive coordinator, needs a solid showing in New England out of the gates.

The offense has been a major issue for the past two seasons. Bill O’Brien failed to improve on Matt Patricia’s performance. Van Pelt marks the fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons in Foxboro. He’d like to avoid the team searching for a fifth in 2025. Failing to get on the same page as the No. 3 overall pick is one way to speed up a potential departure. Having a veteran like Brissett run the offense is, at the very least, a way to buy some time for the coaching staff.

This theory seems far-fetched from this perspective. However, leaving the door ajar to Maye starting led to such speculation.

Drake Maye Should Start

Some on the airwaves opined that Drake Maye should start for the New England Patriots no matter what. He is the future of the franchise, and the sooner he gets NFL experience, the better. Of course, this is not always accurate. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes are just a few future Hall of Fame quarterbacks who did not start to begin their NFL careers. Things worked out fine for all of them.

The logic behind this one seems to be that the Patriots won’t be contenders in 2024, no matter who is playing quarterback. This might be accurate. But how does a coaching staff tell the other 52 players on the roster that they are intentionally not giving the team the best chance to win if Maye doesn’t show he’s ready to play? Furthermore, is it worth risking Maye losing his confidence, and perhaps his head, playing behind an offensive line that is currently littered with question marks?

New England drafted Drake Maye as an investment for the future. Perhaps “the future” means this season to some, but attempting to cash-in on that investment too early could prove far more costly than having him sit too long.

Ernie Adams Is Correct

As PFN reported on, former New England Patriots advisor Ernie Adams recently discussed the handling of Drake Maye on an episode of Julian Edelman’s Game With Names podcast. Adams gave a simple answer to when Maye should play for the Patriots: “When he’s ready.”

Adams said it is up to the coaching staff to determine when that is. Based on the footwork on Maye’s college film, his lack of experience calling plays in a huddle, shortened training camp, and other adjustments to the NFL game, it is unlikely anyone would believe Maye could be ready to start in Week 1. He’ll start when he’s ready. Which brings us back to Mayo.

What Jerod Mayo Should Have Said

The future of the Patriots franchise might not ride on Drake Maye. But the quarterback’s performance will go a long way in determining New England’s direction. Maye stands as the single most important player on the roster without question. What happens in Foxboro, both on the field and in front of microphones, should be done with his best interests in mind. Mayo did not act in Maye’s best interests when he said the rookie might start. It could have been avoided.

“Jacoby Brissett is our starting quarterback until further notice,” Mayo might have said. “It’s hard to envision a scenario where Brissett stays healthy and does not start for the 2024 season. If anyone challenges him it will likely be Bailey Zappe. He was our starter to end last season, has NFL experience, and has the respect of his teammates.

“Rookie quarterbacks have a tough road in the NFL,” Mayo could have continued. “Whether talking about Drake Maye or Joe Milton, expecting a rookie quarterback to earn a starting job over a veteran is unrealistic. Tom Brady didn’t do it. Either did Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes. There are examples to the contrary too, but going the conservative route is the path I’m most comfortable with. That’s not a reflection of Drake Maye or Joe Milton, that’s a reflection on me.”

But as we know, these are not the words that Mayo said. Now the talking heads are arguing about whether Drake Maye is already a bust, as the rookie takes erratic shotgun snaps from a center with no experience and throws to receivers unlikely to make the roster. And if Maye’s not to blame, they’ll discuss whether Jerod Mayo and Alex Van Pelt are coaching scared and are in over their heads for putting Maye in such a lousy situation.

Would the talking heads have found something to be negative about no matter how this played out in training camp? Probably. But New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo can’t make their jobs so easy while making Drake Maye’s more difficult.