In New England, the job of starting quarterback is up for grabs

As the 2024 NFL season approaches, the New England Patriots are still confused about what the team will look like in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Preparing the team is the coaching staff's top priority, with a particular focus on the quarterback position and who can secure the starting spot.

While it's easy to assume that veteran Jacoby Brissett will start the season, rookie Drake Maye simply can't be ruled out after his preseason performance against the Philadelphia Eagles.

At 6-11 with 47 passing yards, Maye scored a rushing touchdown, showing off his impressive ability to find a gap and use his legs. He also made a beautiful 51-yard pass to rookie receiver Javon Baker running down the field, and although he was dropped, it was perfectly thrown and showed great potential for how the Patriots can build around the young quarterback.

With that in mind, here are three reasons why Maye should start for the New England Patriots.

Why Drake Maye should start in Week 1

Good performance under pressure

Yes, Maye still has a long way to go to catch up to Brissett in terms of his understanding of the Patriots' offense and defense, but that's obviously because he's missing his 9-year NFL career that began with his draft by New England in 2016.

What Maye has over him, however, is his ability to play well under pressure and operate outside of the game plan in a panic. This is a very important trait for a starting quarterback, especially in the current situation the Patriots find themselves in this season.

The team has a lot of weaknesses, whether they like it or not. The offensive line needs to get stronger and the receivers need to get better at creating space consistently. If Maye can re-form the pocket with his athleticism and scrambling skills like he did against the Eagles in the preseason, he can buy the receivers more time and increase the team's chances.

Whoever ends up being the Patriots' starting quarterback, they're going to be under a lot of pressure and a lot of it, especially given the O-line situation. If Maye wants to have a chance, he's going to have to find passes in tight situations; the good news is that one of his strengths throughout training camp has been completing passes with different arm angles in crowded pockets. His ability to get the ball to receivers while surrounded by pressing linemen will be extremely useful this season.

He gives the offensive a new face

Brissett fits the Patriots' playbook very well. He is a smart quarterback who makes the right passes and sets up the running game with the right plays. He has shown throughout his career that he can make accurate passes and avoid interceptions, aside from the one he threw in the Eagles' preseason game.

He may be a better decision maker than Maye at this point in their careers, but that's simply due to a lack of experience in the league. Plus, what Brissett knows about the Patriots' system isn't the same as when he was on the roster.

Alex Van Pelt's new offensive scheme fits Maye's style of play better than Brissett's, and that was evident against the Eagles. From using a run-pass option to often using the young quarterback as a shotgun, the Patriots' new scheme not only allowed Maye to utilize his running skills all game long, but also resulted in him scoring his first NFL touchdown.

In terms of attacking passes down low, Brissett has impressed many people with his arm strength. When he started 11 games in 2022, he ranked seventh in the league in air yards per throw and averaged 7.7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage per throw.

Whether the veteran's stats are impressive or not, Maye simply has a stronger arm as a rookie and can throw deeper than Brissett, end of discussion.

The Patriots' struggling offense ranked last in explosive plays last season and appears to be looking to rely heavily on the running game this season. If they want any chance at success, they'll have to take advantage of the big-play opportunity that Maye offers.

The best way to develop

Maye won't be perfect right out of the gate, but that's the way it is with rookie quarterbacks. He learns best when you put him in the game, and he'll learn as he goes.

Many rookies have come through from the start, such as CJ Stroud for the Houston Texans, where his skills put their team on the road to success. Many rookies have also benefited from sitting on the bench, such as Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, who got his chance last season and put on a show after the departure of Aaron Rodgers.

On a team like the Patriots, there will be ups but also many downs, especially with the O-line and the group of receivers further down the field for whoever plays quarterback.

Whatever the case, Maye can only prove to be the solution for New England if he goes out there and shows his skills on the field.

Main image: Kris Craig/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK