The New England Patriots drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The franchise also signed Jacoby Brissett to a one-year $8 million deal in free agency, and everyone knew that the UNC product would have to wait to become the team’s starting quarterback.
The Patriots won the first game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals but have lost four straight since then. They arguably have the worst offensive line in the league, which has made things tough for Brissett and the entire offense.
New England has officially announced that Maye will be their starting quarterback in Week 6 against the Houston Texans, and some of the team’s fans did not like that decision.
Patriots Fans React to Drake Maye Becoming Team’s Starting Quarterback
Patriots fans are not particularly happy with the franchise’s decision to make Maye their starting quarterback for Week 6. The vast majority of them think it is a panic move, and putting a rookie quarterback behind their offensive line against a team like the Texans is not a good idea.
Here’s how they reacted on social media:
So dumb. This was a panic reaction to 1-4 & letting the noise affect everything.
— Bradyboy12 (@TuckerRossCon)
“I want to be excited since I think he’s gonna be a very good pro, but he’s gonna be running for his life behind that offensive line this year,” said Wheelz via X.
“Franchise about to destroy another QB,” added another fan.
I love Drake Maye’s potential, but starting him this year behind that OL, throwing to basically no one is awful for his development…hope I’m wrong https://t.co/CIUO5NUnlA
— JBBets (@JBBettor)
“Not sure why they’d choose to start him against a top-3 D-Line in the league while having the worst O-Line,” said one fan on X while talking about the Patriots’ tough matchup against the Texans.
My favorite thing is the comments thinking this is going to fix this team. This should be a tank season and the @Patriots are risking the development and health of Maye for unlikely short-term gains. https://t.co/hb4hQigdDo
— Bryan Adams (@AdamsDTD)
Although the fans are not sure whether the team made the right decision for the rookie quarterback, legendary Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is quite excited about it.
“Go time. Let’s see what the young guns got,” said Edelman about the team’s decision
Can Drake Maye Fix the Patriots’ Issues?
The Patriots have scored an average of 12.4 points per game this season and are the second-worst scoring offense in the league. They are also averaging just 119.4 passing yards per game this season and are dead last among all the teams in that category.
Brissett, the team’s starting quarterback in the first five games of the year, has thrown for 696 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, completing 58.5% of his passes.
Although the team’s offensive line is a big issue, having Maye on the field gives the Patriots a chance to play a better brand of football. The rookie is a dynamic player who can hurt the opposition’s defense with both his arm and legs.
Impossible not to have an immense amount of hope for this guy.
I’m so jacked up for Drake Maye on Sunday
The season is back on. pic.twitter.com/0RjjOyb2nX
— Football (@BostonConnr)
The 22-year-old quarterback spoke about becoming the starting quarterback and said, “I think it’s a great opportunity. It’s something you dream of, getting your first start in the NFL. So I’m excited to be out there with those guys. Take advantage of having a full week to get prepared and try to put my best foot forward and help this team win.”
During his final year at North Carolina, Maye threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 12 games. He also rushed for 449 yards and nine touchdowns on 112 carries, averaging 4.0 yards per carry.
He might not hit the ground running, but his effort on the field will make everyone around him play better.
Rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk has been promising so far, and with Maye as his quarterback, he could take the next leap and become a reliable option for the team in the passing game.
The Patriots’ next three games are against the Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets. Two of these three teams have an elite defense, and it will be a challenging start for Maye as the Patriots’ starting quarterback.
