The New England Patriots used the third overall pick in the last Draft on North Carolina’s Drake Maye as their future franchise quarterback. However, the AFC East team is not yet ready to give the reins of the offense to the rookie.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt addressed the media and stated that veteran Jacoby Brissett is the quarterback who has practiced with the starters while Maye is learning behind him.
“(Brissett) is a great guy. That’s why he is here, because of the person he is, because of the leader he is. “He has taken young people under his wing,” Van Pelt said. “Jacoby is our starter and has played good football throughout the spring. Drake’s moment will come later.
This is Brissett’s second season in New England since his career began in 2016 after the Patriots selected him in the third round of the Draft. That year, he saw action in three games, and the following season, he began a four-season stint with the Indianapolis Colts. He has spent the last three years under one-year contracts with the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Washington Commanders.
Developing a quarterback is like running a marathon
During the press conference, New England’s offensive coordinator was questioned about the secret to developing a rookie quarterback’s talent. Van Pelt pointed out that the process must be taken day by day, as if it were a marathon, not a sprint race. One of the details that they have worked on the most with the North Carolina graduate is footwork and throwing correctly.
“I think it’s like a marathon, not a sprint,” Van Pelt explained. “You can’t run a marathon without training, and you must train properly. It’s the same with a quarterback.”
Likewise, the coach believes that Maye is an intelligent player willing to study the Patriots’ playbook. During his university career, the former Tar Heels player accumulated 8,018 yards with 63 touchdowns and 16 interceptions after completing 64.9 percent of his throws.