New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo surprised many on Friday when he confirmed that rookie quarterback Drake Maye has been receiving a significant number of first-team snaps in practice, despite Jacoby Brissett being the team’s starting quarterback.
Mayo explained that they are focusing on developing Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, while also preparing Brissett for games. This has led to a unique 70-30 split in reps between the two quarterbacks, with Maye also taking snaps with the starters and performing well on the scout team.
While Brissett, 31, signed a one-year contract with the Patriots and earned the starting job, the team is taking a cautious approach with Maye, indicating that he is the quarterback of the future for the franchise.
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel expressed surprise at the split-reps strategy, calling it “extremely eye-opening and rare.” He noted that it is uncommon for a starting quarterback not to receive 100% of the reps in practice.
The Patriots’ decision to split reps seems to be paying off, as Brissett led the team to a surprising victory over the Bengals in Week 1, winning 16-10 on the road in Cincinnati. The team’s focus on developing Maye while supporting Brissett highlights their commitment to building a strong quarterback foundation for the future.