2024 is the dawn of a new era for the New England Patriots with Drake Maye taking over as the franchise quarterback. He will be replacing 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones, who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason after not panning out.
The No. 2 overall pick will also be working with a first-time head coach. Being the new face of the franchise is difficult enough, but Jerod Mayo has some massive shoes to fill as he will be taking over for Bill Belichick.
Mayo’s tenure with the New England Patriots will be defined by the development of Drake Maye. If he pans out and the team has success, he will be seen in a positive light. If he follows a similar career arc as Jones did, there are going to be new faces leading the franchise in a few years.
There is a lot of optimism that Drake Maye will be successful as a pro. He has drawn comparisons to Josh Allen, a perennial MVP candidate that the Patriots know well from their matchups against the Buffalo Bills.
But, Mayo is throwing some cold water on that hype. On Saturday, he was taking questions from reporters about Drake Maye and issued a straightforward response that some fans will be disappointed to hear.
“He has a lot to work on. A lot to work on,” Mayo said Saturday, repeating himself. “But I have no doubt that he will put the time in. He was here all night trying to get on the same page as everyone else.”
Patience will need to be exhibited when it comes to the development of Drake Maye. He is oozing with potential and has a very high ceiling, but playing the quarterback position is difficult. For every C.J. Stroud, there are several Mac Joneses.
Hitting the ground running as Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft of the Houston Texans, would be incredible. But, that is the outlier, not the norm, when it comes to quarterbacks.
2024 will likely be a reset year for the New England Patriots with first-timers at head coach and quarterback. As long as they show development and take steps forward throughout the season, it can be viewed as a success.
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