Patriots Position Breakdown: When Will Drake Maye Take QB Job?

Welcome to Patriots Position Breakdown, a 10-part series on NESN.com where we dive deep into each of New England’s position groups prior to the start of training camp.

The Patriots will kickstart training camp Wednesday, and in preparation, we’ve written a lot of words regarding the individual position groups.

It doesn’t matter if we’re talking tight ends or specialists, offensive line or defensive line, cornerbacks or safeties, running backs or linebackers, wide receivers or the next group on our list — quarterbacks. It’s been a bear.

Who better to wrap this series up with than the QBs, though? It’s the most important position on the field, after all, and there’s one man in that group who will eventually be relied upon to completely change the shortcomings of a once great franchise.

Roster Overview

– Drake Maye
– Jacoby Brissett
– Joe Milton III
– Bailey Zappe

Maye is the most important name we’ll talk about, not only in this story but over the course of the next eight months.

It’s his team, and no one is arguing that, but he’ll have to earn the opportunity to eventually rise into that starting role. The Patriots brought Jacoby Brissett in to bridge the gap, and anything short of disaster should hold off the rookie well into the season.

New England isn’t anywhere near ready to compete, so there’s no rush in getting Maye out onto the field. It’s a situation that ultimately will come down to performance, and that’s all you can ask for when trying to dictate the start of a young signal-caller’s career.

Biggest Question(s)

— When does Maye earn the top job?
Maye’s ultimate rise probably isn’t all that close.

It doesn’t make much sense rolling him out against the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets or San Francisco 49ers, who make up three of the Patriots’ first four opponents. New England won’t have its BYE until December, so that’s way too late.

We imagine it comes at some point between Week 6 (vs. Houston Texans) and Week 10 (at Chicago Bears).

— Does Zappe have a spot… anywhere?
The Patriots cut Zappe at the end of training camp last season, before quickly signing him back to the 53-man roster and eventually starting him for the final stretch of a disastrous season. It doesn’t appear there’s a path for that to happen once again.

Milton’s arrival seems like one that could push Zappe off the roster (and even the practice squad) entirely. New England has Brissett and Maye so that third spot is probably better served for a developmental prospect with much more talent.

We just wonder if Zappe could even find a home after being cut. Who needs QB depth?

Grade

– N/A

We don’t know who will be playing, when they’ll be playing or why they’ll be playing. Check back in around January.