Quarterback Drake Maye, the first-round pick of the New England Patriots, made his NFL debut in the loss to the New York Jets and showed good promise.

When the game against the New York Jets was already lost, the New England Patriots’ new hope was allowed to make his debut. With 4:24 minutes left in the game, on his team’s final drive, Drake Maye took over for Jacoby Brissett.

Starting from his own 42-yard line, he led the previously harmless Patriots into the opposing red zone at the seven-yard line before a sack ended the drive on the last play of the game. The score of 3:24 remained unchanged. Maye, who was selected by the Patriots as the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed four of eight passes for 22 yards by then.

How did it feel for him? “Of course you don’t want to be on the field for the first time in a decent loss, but at the same time you just want to get going, get a few plays in and have fun,“ he said in the locker room right after the game ended.

”I felt a little nervous,” the 22-year-old admitted, ”but it was also a great night in front of this crowd and in this atmosphere.” Before that, Head Coach Jerod Mayo had a few words for him: “He said just be smart with the ball, don’t do anything stupid, just go out there and have fun. This is your moment, go out there and make some plays.”

Weak Offensive Line

His first play was an incomplete pass, but it was a good throw. In order to give the young quarterback as much playing time as possible, the playcaller kept the team on the field for the fourth down play—with success.

One play later, Mayo completed the first pass of his NFL career—to Antonio Gibson. Twice Maye ran the ball himself, once gaining eleven yards and a new first down.

Both quarterbacks, Brissett and Maye, suffered from the Patriots’ weak offensive line. The Jets got seven sacks, two of which Maye conceded. Brissett completed twelve of his 18 passes for 98 yards. It is not to be assumed that the quarterback change shortly before the end of the game will last.

In the medium term, however, Maye is supposed to be the future of this franchise.