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One of the NFL’s most intriguing training camp battles seems to have an early leader.
New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo indicated that veteran Jacoby Brissett is currently slated as New England’s QB1 over rookie Drake Maye while speaking with media Tuesday as the team opened training camp.
“It’s clear Jacoby (Brissett) is the most pro ready,” Mayo said.
The 31-year-old Brissett returned to the Patriots on a one-year, $8 million contract this offseason after spending the last four years on four different squads.
Brissett was drafted by New England in the third round in 2016, ultimately starting two contests as a rookie as Tom Brady was suspended for Deflategate.
Although Brissett was inked as a bridge option, the Patriots were steadfast in their interest in securing the quarterback of the future via the NFL Draft.
Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf did just that, eschewing several trade offers — including from the Giants — to take Maye out of North Carolina at No. 3 overall.
The 21-year-old’s combination of arm talent, size and athleticism is tantalizing, though he was regarded as raw following a somewhat down 2023 season.
In his final year with the Tar Heels, Maye completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 3,608 yards, throwing 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions while running for 449 yards.
The year before, though, he was at a 66.2 percent completion clip, 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns, along with 698 yards on the ground.
The Patriots are in search of answers at quarterback after 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones fizzled out with two straight unsuccessful years in Foxborough after a promising rookie season.
New England dealt Jones to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in March.
Since Tom Brady left the Patriots for Tampa Bay in 2020, the team hasn’t enjoyed much sustained success under center.
Between Jones, Cam Newton, Brian Hoyer, Bailey Zappe and Jarrett Stidham, Patriots quarterbacks have thrown for 71 touchdowns compared to 62 interceptions in the last four seasons — the fourth-most among any team in that span.
After finishing 4-13 — the franchise’s worst record since 1992 — the Patriots are optimistic that the tandem of Maye and Mayo will dramatically flip the script, even if not immediately.
The Patriots begin their 2024 preseason on Aug. 8 against the Carolina Panthers.
