New England selected Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After remodeling their coaching staff and front office this past offseason, the next major question mark for the New England Patriots to answer was at quarterback.
That answer came in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft as they used the No. 3 overall selection on Drake Maye. But now a new question is raised: when does the potential future of the franchise see the playing field?
Making his first appearance on WEEI’s Jones and Mego on Monday, Maye said the “goal” for himself is to start Week 1, but knows there’s plenty of work to do beforehand.
“That’s obviously a goal for myself and any rookie quarterback coming in the NFL,” Maye said. “But also, getting in there and learn. Learn from Jacoby [Brissett] and the other vets around there and just put my best foot forward. For me, I just want to earn the respect of the guys and get to know them first. But, obviously all the stuff on the field will come after that.”
Since selecting Maye, head coach Jerod Mayo made it clear that the best player throughout the offseason would earn the starting job. While many project Maye as a project that needs to begin his career on the sideline, his natural ability and competitive toughness could result in him earning the nod out of the gate.
If not, however, the former Tar Heel is ready act like a sponge until his number is called.
“I think one of the best things about being a 21-year-old coming in there is getting ready to learn and soak it all in,” Maye said. “If I’m the best guy — I think Coach Mayo’s kind of said that, the best guys going to play — so if that happens to be me I’m ready to go and if not I’m going to prepare like it and compete and learn as much as I can from the other guys to get ready to do that.”
Maye will also not be the only rookie quarterback on the roster, as New England drafted Tennessee’s Joe Milton in the sixth-round of the draft. The two will join Brissett, Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke to round out what Maye expects to be a competitive QB room.
“Looking forward to competing with each other. Competitive room and energy — high energy. I think we all bring that,” he said. “And just have fun in there. Best thing about quarterbacks is we keep it light and once we’re on the field we’re competitors.”
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