In a surprising turn of events, Drake Maye, the highly touted rookie quarterback, is set to make his NFL debut on Thursday night for the New England Patriots. This wasn’t the original plan for Maye or the Patriots, but circumstances have led to this moment.
Replacing Jacoby Brissett with just over four minutes left in a game where the Patriots are down 24-3, Maye takes the field for his first taste of NFL action. The Patriots offense has struggled, managing only 93 yards with Brissett completing 12-of-18 passes for a mere 98 yards. To make matters worse, the Patriots offensive line has allowed Brissett to be sacked five times throughout the game.
Despite Brissett being named the starter at the beginning of the season, it was widely believed that Maye would eventually take over the starting role. As the third overall pick in the draft, the pressure is on Maye to live up to expectations. He is the only one of the top-three picks who did not start the season as the team’s QB1.
While Maye’s fellow rookie quarterbacks, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, have yet to throw a touchdown pass this season, Maye now has an opportunity to make a statement and outshine his peers. This presents a chance for Maye to do something no rookie quarterback has accomplished so far in the season.
It will be interesting to see how Maye handles the pressure of his first NFL start and if he can turn the tide for the struggling Patriots offense. Only time will tell if Maye is truly ready to step up and lead his team to victory.
