Brissett opens camp as Patriots' QB1, but door open for Maye - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — First-year New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said veteran Jacoby Brissett is the team's starting quarterback entering training camp because he's the most «pro ready,» but Mayo left the door open that rookie Drake Maye could overtake him.

«If he comes out here and lights it up, it absolutely could happen,» Mayo said in reference to Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft. «But coming out of the spring, I don't think there is any doubt — Jacoby is the starting quarterback at this point in time.»

Mayo repeated multiple times that he is preaching competition to his players at all positions, including quarterback, where the team has Brissett, Maye, third-year player Bailey Zappe and 2024 sixth round pick Joe Milton III.

The Patriots signed Brissett, entering his ninth NFL season, to a one-year, $8 million deal in the offseason while knowing they would likely select a quarterback in the draft. The strategy, in part, was to have an experienced signal-caller who could keep the team competitive while not rushing a rookie's development.

Brissett has started 48 career NFL games and also played in the offensive system being implemented by first-year offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt during the 2022 season with the Cleveland Browns.

«I think it's clear that Jacoby is the most pro-ready guy we have,» Mayo said in advance of the team's first official practice of training camp Wednesday.

Mayo added that every situation with a rookie quarterback has unique dynamics. He pointed out how Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, a 2020 first-round pick, sat behind Aaron Rodgers for three seasons before emerging as one of the NFL's up-and-coming stars.

«There have also been situations where a guy comes