Breer: Drake Maye ‘closing in’ on being Patriots’ best QB originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
It’s a matter of when, not if, Drake Maye becomes the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback this season.
That’s what Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reiterated Sunday morning on NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Pregame Live, adding that the rookie quarterback continues to make strides behind the scenes. According to Breer, Maye has specifically developed one skill that he’ll need if he takes over as QB1 ahead of current starter Jacoby Brissett.
“His progress has been steady in all the areas we’ve talked about: footwork, understanding what he’s looking at with defenses,” Breer said Sunday, as seen in the video player above. “And really what he’s made strides in over the last couple weeks is in blitz situations. This is gonna be huge, because that’s a big part of what the Patriots are getting thrown at them right now with their offensive line issue.”
The Patriots have allowed QB pressures on 47.4 percent of offensive snaps this season, the highest rate in the NFL. The inconsistent play of their banged-up offensive line is one reason why New England doesn’t want to rush Maye into action.
But as Breer pointed out, Maye’s progress is becoming hard to ignore.
“I’m told he is closing in now on being the best quarterback on the team,” Breer said. “So, what does this mean going forward? Well, players can tell and see the drumbeat for where this is going.
“I think what this is gonna come down to is, when he does wind up passing Jacoby Brissett and other people can see that he’s the best quarterback on the team, is the team ready to support him? I still think Drake Maye becoming the starter at some point in November is very much on the table.”
Patriots Insider Phil Perry reported this week that Patriots coaches are “aligned” on a plan for Maye, and that the organization has a “window of time” where it envisions Maye taking the field. On Patriots Pregame Live, Perry noted that…
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