Drake Maye’s Patriots preseason debut was very anticlimatic, and it is even stranger in a historic context.
Head coach Jerod Mayo instructed reporters after New England’s win over the Carolina Panthers that the quarterback utilization went precisely as deliberate. Maye performed one collection within the first quarter earlier than Bailey Zappe got here on to play the bulk of the exhibition matchup.
The Gilette Stadium crowd turned on Zappe when he got here on for Maye, and whereas Mayo’s logic was comprehensible, it is also honest for followers to really feel dissatisfied to get so little from the 2024 third-overall decide — Maye went 2-for-3 for 19 yards in his lone drive Thursday night time.
However how does this examine to different first-round quarterbacks? Was Maye’s utilization an outlier, or have been the Patriots following traits from different signal-callers? Let’s check out how a lot every first-round QB from the final three draft courses performed of their first preseason recreation.
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2023
Bryce Younger: Performed three drives and went 4-for-6 for 21 yards.
C.J. Stroud: Performed two collection finishing 2-of-4 passes for 15 yards with an interception.
Anthony Richardson: Performed three collection finishing 7-of-12 passes for 67 yards with an interception.
2022
Kenny Pickett: Performed one collection and went 7-of-12 for 132 yards and threw one landing.
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2021
Trevor Lawrence: Performed your entire first quarter and first drive of the second quarter finishing 6-for-12 passes for 95 yards plus a landing and one rush for 11 yards.
Zach Wilson: Performed two drives finishing 6-of-9 passes for 63 yards.
Trey Lance: Performed two collection ending with 4-of-5 accomplished passes for 92 yards and a landing
Justin Fields: Performed two quarters finishing 14-of-20 passes for 142 yards and a landing.
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Mac Jones: Performed 5 collection finishing 13-of-19 passes for 47 yards.
Pickett was the lone quarterback out of the group to solely play one collection, however he impressed and satisfied followers he’d be the following man for the Pittsburgh Steelers. You return to the Jones period, and Invoice Belichick gave him a good sufficient leash that was the beginning of him finally surpassing Cam Newton because the starter.
Maye’s utilization Thursday was a transparent outlier in comparison with different high quarterbacks of the previous. Mayo would possibly see extra worth in subsequent Tuesday’s joint observe with the Philadelphia Eagles. New England would possibly swerve everybody and play Maye extra within the second preseason recreation.