New England Patriots QB Depth Chart: Drake Maye “Will Play a Lot More” vs. Eagles

The New England Patriots played all four of their quarterbacks on the depth chart in the preseason opener vs. the Carolina Panthers. What type of timeshare will we see for the Week 2 preseason clash vs. the Philadelphia Eagles?

The new-look Patriots, spearheaded by Jerod Mayo and a revamped quarterback room, kick off the second full week of preseason action on Thursday.

Who Will Get the Most Snaps for the New England Patriots?

Bailey Zappe attempted 20 of the collective 32 passes from New England quarterbacks in the preseason opener. Joe Milton generated the most buzz, going 4/6 for 54 yards and a touchdown. Rookie first-rounder Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett each tied at three pass attempts apiece.

When asked how this week will shake out with the QBs, Mayo alluded to a redistribution of snaps for the second preseason tilt: “This week, Drake Maye will play a lot more.” Now, “a lot more” is a matter of subjectivity — will he get as many pass attempts as Zappe did last week? Does Maye get a full half of action in? Regardless, Maye should get more opportunities and it’ll be up to him to capitalize.

Jerod Mayo: “This week, Drake Maye will play a lot more.”

— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 11, 2024

It’s a risk vs. reward trade-off — the preseason snaps can be helpful for a young signal-caller. However, ask Vikings fans how they are feeling after seeing their first-round promising QB, J.J. McCarthy, lose his season to a torn meniscus. To Maye and every other player, please get out of the game healthy!

The rematch of Super Bowl 52 in Foxborough will shed light on the developing Patriots quarterback room and their best path forward competing in a dog-eat-dog AFC East. Whoever steps up in New England will have to go toe to toe with Aaron Rodgers, Tua Tagovailoa, and Josh Allen.

Getting To Know Bailey Zappe

Zappe is all who’s left from the 2023 Pats QB room.

He no longer will compete with former first-rounder Mac Jones for the starting role, as the 2021 No. 15 selection got traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the offseason.

The 25-year-old started in eight regular-season games for the Patriots and evened his record at 4-4. Zappe logged his most starts last season with six but went 2-4 overall behind center.

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Zappe ended ’23 throwing for 1,272 yards and six touchdowns but was intercepted nine times. He also finished with a 59.9% completion percentage.

The former Western Kentucky star and Pats’ 2022 fourth-rounder may now be in a fight for the No. 3 QB role with one other rookie in Foxborough, Mass.

Getting To Know Joe Milton III

As it turns out, Maye isn’t the only rookie QB hailing from college football’s 2023 Power Five realm.

Milton came over via the University of Tennessee, where he withstood the daunting Southeastern Conference slate. Milton did not fall out of the ’24 draft either, as he got taken 193rd overall by the Patriots.

Milton, who began his college career at Michigan, happens to be the tallest Pats QB option for Thursday — standing at a towering 6’5″. He’s also the heaviest passer on the ’24 roster at 246 pounds.

SEE MORE: New England Patriots Depth Chart

But why did the native of Pahokee, Fla., drop in the draft? While Cummings took a liking to Milton’s rocket arm, he noticed that the tall QB played in a one-read throwing system that’s failed to translate to the league. Cummings additionally saw flaws in Milton’s pre and post-snap reads.

“At Tennessee, Milton was almost entirely reliant on one-read throws, with very few pure drop-backs and progressions baked in,” Cummings wrote in Milton’s draft evaluation. “Even on one-read throws, Milton experienced startling delays between recognition and trigger at times, and his inability to adapt off of schemed targets also created turnover opportunities for opposing defenses.”