Patriots exec Eliot Wolf: Determining when Drake Maye starts to be 'collaborative approach'

All signs point to quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, starting immediately for the Bears and Commanders, respectively.

The wait for No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye, however, could be longer.

The New England Patriots don’t appear to be counting on Maye to be their starting QB from the outset this fall, willing to take a more patient approach in his development. But when Maye, who agreed to terms on his rookie contact Tuesday, per NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo, might eventually start is a fair question to ponder, along with how that decision will be made.

Following minicamp two weeks ago, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo indicated that Maye had “a lot to work on,” suggesting that the talented rookie remains in the developmental stage until further notice.

The Patriots’ Eliot Wolf, who recently was named the club’s executive vice president of player personnel, said the approach to deciding Maye’s readiness will be a collaborative one, which figures to include Mayo.

“I think those will be some important conversations for us to have,” Wolf told Kay Adams on Tuesday’s edition of Up & Adams. “Right now, it’s Jacoby Brissett. He’s taking the first reps, and we’re excited about what he’s shown not only off the field but on the field with his throwing ability. Drake Maye, let’s be honest, we’ve had him for three weeks now. There’s a long way to go to for all of our rookies and all of our players as we adapt to this new scheme that coach (Alex) Van Pelt is implementing offensively.

We’ll engage in those discussions as they come up. I’m confident that we’ll continue our collaborative approach as we have done with all our major decisions so far. Each of the four quarterbacks currently on our roster is working diligently and is prepared to play.

Brissett is currently in his second stint with the Patriots, who initially drafted him in 2016’s 3rd round. Since then, he has started 48 NFL games, which includes two seasons of 15 starts with the Colts and 11 games as a starter for the Browns in 2022. During his previous season with Washington, Brissett had a completion rate of 78.3%, completing 18 out of 23 passes for 224 yards. He also scored three touchdowns without any interceptions in three games.

Brissett also is a good example of any rookie QB — not just first-rounders — needing to be ready right away. As a rookie in 2016, he was thrust into the No. 2 role behind provisional starter Jimmy Garoppolo while Tom Brady was suspended for the season’s first four games. When Garoppolo was injured in Week 2 that season, Brissett became an unexpected rookie starter in Weeks 3 and 4.

The Patriots also turned to rookie Mac Jones in the 2021 season as the Week 1 starter under former head coach Bill Belichick. Jones had a solid rookie season, leading the Patriots to the playoffs, but regressed thereafter and was traded this offseason to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Adams inquired from Wolf whether Jones’ circumstances in New England had any impact on Maye’s developmental journey.

Wolf reiterated, “Each situation is unique.” The key takeaway from our experiences, he said, is the importance of providing comprehensive support to all our quarterbacks, including Drake. This involves offering every possible level of assistance, whether it’s coaching, off-field matters, virtual reality training, or any other potential means. The goal is to be fully committed to backing whichever quarterback is playing in every possible aspect.

Wolf stated that he doesn’t necessarily advocate for rushing Maye into the lineup or keeping him sidelined. Ideally, Maye’s progression will be self-evident and provide the Patriots’ management with a clear indication of the appropriate time for him to start.

Wolf stated, “I don’t believe there is a distinct Eliot Wolf ideology when it comes to nurturing quarterbacks. Every individual and player is unique, so it’s essential to trust your observations, heed the coaches and truly comprehend who is prepared and who isn’t. As I mentioned before, Drake has been part of our team for nearly three weeks. So, we’re going to see how things progress. He might be ready, or he might not.”

The team as a whole is also a concern. Despite making the playoffs once, the team’s performance has been dwindling since Brady’s departure after the 2019 season. Following their disappointing 4-13 record last year, it may be hard to envision the Patriots bouncing back and becoming contenders this season.

The possibility of New England being a contender this season could also influence when Maye receives the ball. However, in May, Wolf was not prepared to make any predictions for the 2024 season.

“Do the Patriots qualify as a playoff team? Wolf stated, “We’re not strictly focused on making it to the playoffs. Rather, I would say our primary focus is on making progress.”