Business has picked up in New England since camp ended, with Jacoby Brissett competing with first-round draft pick rookie Drake Maye for the starting quarterback spot.
According to DraftKings, Brissett is the favorite to start in Week 1 at Cincinnati, playing center at -300 odds, despite not taking part in first-team practices during organized team activities.
These odds project Brissett has a 75 percent chance of earning the Week 1 pick, while Maye is +225 or 30.77 percent. DraftKings is subtracting a 5.77 percent commission from the market high.
The Patriots clearly view Maye as their quarterback of the future, selecting him with the No. 3 pick, but that doesn’t mean he’s a sure thing he’ll take the Patriots’ starting offensive snaps.
“We’re thrilled to be able to take on this amazing team,” first-year coach Jarrod Mayo said. After rookie minicamp, he noted Maye has “a lot to work on,” but had no doubt Maye will “put in the work.”
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk also speculated about these comments, saying the Patriots are “trying to set up a scenario where Jacoby Brissett starts this year, possibly the entire year, while Drake Maye learns on the bench.”
Still, during OTA, Mei Take a Snap Starting center David Andrews took the snaps, while Brissett took the snaps from backup Antonio Maffei.
The team posted the photos on its website, sparking speculation that the rookie could become a starter sooner than people thought.
But Maye is still young — just 22 at the start of the season — and the Patriots have one of the worst offensive forces in the NFL.
With a capable backup in Brissett on the roster, the Patriots could have Maye start the season on the bench and then officially take over.
Brissett previously played for the Patriots, serving as Tom Brady’s backup in 2016. Traded to the Colts Traded for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett
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The former Patriots player has played for four different teams since then, including three different teams in the past three years.
If you are willing to put down a chunk of money in hopes of a 33.3% return on investment, Brissett is actually a horse worth betting on at odds of -300.
Prediction: Brissett to start for Patriots in Week 1 (-300, DraftKings)
