One of the NFL’s most intriguing training camp battles appears to have an emerging leader early on.
New Patriots head coach Jerrod Mayo spoke to the media on Tuesday as the team opened training camp, suggesting that veteran Jacoby Brissett is projected to be New England’s QB1 over rookie Drake Mayo.
“Jacoby (Brissett) is clearly the best fit to play professionally.” Mayo said.
Brissett, 31, returned to the Patriots this offseason on a one-year, $8 million contract after spending the past four years with four different teams.
Brissett was a third-round draft pick by New England in 2016 and ultimately played in two games as a rookie due to Tom Brady’s suspension amid Deflategate.
Brissett signed as a stop-gap option, but the Patriots were adamant about securing their quarterback of the future through the NFL Draft.
Executive vice president of player personnel Elliot Wolff did just that, turning down multiple trade offers, including from the Giants, to acquire Maye third overall out of the University of North Carolina.
The 21-year-old has an intriguing combination of arm talent, size and athleticism, but he was viewed as immature after a somewhat lackluster 2023 season.
In his final year with the Tar Heels, Maye completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions to go along with 449 yards rushing.
But the year before, he completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns while adding up 698 yards on the ground.
The Patriots are searching for a quarterback solution after 2021 first-round draft pick Mac Jones underperformed for the second straight year after a promising rookie season in Foxborough.
New England traded Jones to the Jaguars in March in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
Since Tom Brady left the Patriots for Tampa Bay in 2020, the team hasn’t had sustained success under center.
Combined, Jones, Cam Newton, Brian Hoyer, Bailey Zappe and Jarrett Stidham have Patriots quarterbacks throwing 71 touchdowns and 62 interceptions over the past four seasons, fourth-most by any team in that span.
The Patriots, who finished with a 4-13 record – their worst record since 1992 – are optimistic that the Mayet-Mayo duo can turn things around, if not immediately, dramatically.
The Patriots open the 2024 preseason on Aug. 8 against the Carolina Panthers.
