New England Patriots: Who Will Win the 2024 Quarterback Battle?

The Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett to mentor their top Draft pick Drake Maye, and Maye could use some time to learn behind Brissett and develop. But is there a scenario in which Maye is too talented to keep on the bench? Maye is an elite athlete and shows flashes of being a franchise star, but if they put him out there too early, it could backfire on them. Although, if Maye dominates in training camp and has the team willing to follow him, it will be difficult to justify benching him, in hopes of not putting him out there too early.

The best-case scenario for the Patriots would be for Maye to shine early and take the starting job without question. However, if he shows that he needs time to sit and learn, then Brissett is the perfect mentor for him. New England prioritized signing Brissett because of his skills as a mentor and his ability to help teach a younger quarterback. By signing Brissett, and drafting the potential of Drake Maye, New England has done everything in their power to set up their quarterback for years to come.

There most likely isn’t any situation that will result in Bailey Zappe being the Week 1 starter for the Patriots. It will either be Brissett or Maye, and there is actually a few rumors floating around that Zappe will either be cut or traded in the coming weeks. Zappe did all he could in 2023 to help New England but consistently fell short of getting wins. With Brissett’s veteran leadership, and Maye’s elite tools to play the position, Zappe will either be on another roster or a backup in Foxborough.

Where does Joe Milton stand in the Patriots quarterback room?

After New England solidified the quarterback position with Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett, they selected Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton in the sixth round. Some people questioned the pick and others loved it. When it comes to the NFL, teams always need quarterbacks. Whether it is backups, starters, or even practice squad guys, there is always a need at the position.

Milton is another player who has some pretty incredible tools. He is six foot five inches, 236 pounds, and can run very fast at that size. He also has the biggest arm in the class, consistently showing off eighty-yard throws at his pro day and the Scouting Combine. However, he needs quite a bit of development. He is very inconsistent and struggles with short and intermediate throws. He will be a great backup and incredibly entertaining to watch in the preseason, but overall, won’t be competing for the starting job in 2024.