Drake Maye will begin his NFL journey on the sidelines as the New England Patriots have chosen to start veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett in their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tom Brady has endorsed the Patriots’ decision to keep rookie Drake Maye benched at the start of the NFL season, expressing his support for the strategy.
Veteran Jacoby Brissett is set to lead as the starting quarterback, while Maye, the No. 3 overall draft pick, will wait for his opportunity.
Although Maye showed promise during training camp and preseason games, concerns about the team’s overall strength have led head coach Jerod Mayo to ease the rookie into the professional ranks.
In a recent appearance on “The Herd,” seven-time Super Bowl champion and Patriots legend Tom Brady highlighted the value of this approach. He emphasized that rookie quarterbacks benefit from observing experienced players, saying, “I think it’s best for rookie quarterbacks to watch a veteran. There’s so much going on, and quarterbacks need to process a lot of information quickly.”
Brady shared his own experience, recalling how he learned from watching Drew Bledsoe during his rookie year. He noted that other successful quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes also benefited from similar experiences.
Brady stressed that this method helps young quarterbacks build confidence and grow: “Having a seasoned pro in front of you can help with that learning curve, so the young quarterback doesn’t lose confidence in his abilities.”
He concluded by saying, “Eventually, these young players will get their opportunities. The franchises need them to step up and lead in the future, but I believe it’s important to give them time to acclimate to the pro game.”
Following a disappointing 4-13 season last year, the Patriots have moved on from Bill Belichick’s storied tenure. With Maye on the roster, fans are hopeful for a resurgence, though many acknowledge it may be a challenging season with rookie head coach Jerod Mayo.
Critics have voiced concerns about New England’s roster, particularly the offensive line. With Brissett, 31, leading the offense, Mayo is committed to developing Maye, who will primarily work with the scout team.
Mayo explained on Monday that Brissett will get most of the reps, but Maye will still participate in some team drills and will focus on development through scout team work. He noted, “Even as a rookie and a top-10 pick, I spent time on the show teams. It’s an important part of a player’s development.”
