Why is Drake Maye not playing? Why 2024 NFL draft pick is QB2 on Patriots depth chart

The New England Patriots will take the field in Week 3 on "Thursday Night Football." The Patriots are 1-1 entering their meeting with the New York Jets, but some Patriots fans might wonder when Drake Maye will play.

The Patriots drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. However, the rookie signal-caller has begun the season as the backup to nine-year veteran Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett led New England to a massive upset on the road in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Kicking off the season with a win likely helped curb the hunger of Patriots fans, but first-time head coach Jerod Mayo has a difficult assignment of deciding when Maye will make his NFL debut.

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The Patriots are coming off an overtime loss in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, and if the losses continue, the pressure will mount on the coaching staff to play their new franchise quarterback.

Fans will find it frustrating to watch if the offense struggles to score points while the No. 3 overall pick sits on the sideline. New England scored 16 points in Week 1 and 20 in Week 2. Still, the decision to sit Maye to help with his development took months to make.

Here's what to know about the No. 3 pick's current standing on the bench:

Why isn't Drake Maye starting?

While he hasn't been elevated to starter just yet, it appears that New England has a plan to ease Maye into the starting quarterback role.

The organization is giving Maye an abnormally large number of reps with the first-team offense in practice, according to head coach Jerod Mayo, who acknowledged that there's a delicate balance to strike between Brissett preparing for game week and Maye preparing for his career.

"Normally, a starter gets, let's say, 95 percent of the reps, and the backup doesn't. With this, it's a little bit different," Mayo told reporters prior to Week 2. "And we had a conversation, I guess the struggle is, how do you get the starting quarterback prepared for the game and also continue to develop the guy in the background, which is Drake."

"And so it is like a 70/30 split. You're right on the head. We're very thoughtful and have a development plan for Drake," head coach Jerod Mayo stated before the Patriots Week 2 matchup.

In recent years, a number rookie quarterbacks have started in Week 1. Fellow first-rounders Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix have already started this season. However, every situation around the NFL is unique. New England recognizes that Maye's potential for growth and development this season is essential to increase the franchise's chances of becoming a playoff contender again.

That said, expectations for the Patriots were low entering 2024. New England faces a daunting schedule for the first eight weeks, and the upcoming schedule appears difficult on paper, with a number of difficult defenses:

• Week 3 @ New York Jets (TNF)

• Week 4 @ San Francisco 49ers

• Week 5 vs. Miami Dolphins

• Week 6: vs. Houston Texans

• Week 7 @ Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL London Games)

• Week 8 vs. New York Jets

Following the home game against the Jets in Week 8, the team will travel for back-to-back weeks against the Titans and Bears. At this point, the Patriots may be out of contention for a playoff spot, making an ideal time for Maye to make his NFL debut.

Some argue that Maye will benefit from learning on the fly. Fans will point to the success the Houston Texans have found since C.J. Stroud took over. On the flip side, the Carolina Panthers just benched Bryce Young, who has struggled and shown a lack of development since starting Week 1 of the 2023 season. Every quarterback situation is different: Some have had to overcome fundamental issues, but others have entered the league and faced organizational issues.

Keeping Maye's confidence is key to his future development. According to PFF, the Patriot's offensive line ranks 28th overall as a pass-blocking unit through the first two weeks. This is an example of an organizational flaw that could make it difficult for Maye to succeed. Mayo and the organization understand the offensive line was shaky entering 2024, and likely don't want to face the situation of potentially benching Maye if he struggled behind this poor unit early in the season.

The Patriots are a rebuilding team, and Brissett's leadership and mentorship will pay dividends for Maye. There's little doubt Maye won't take the starting role at some point this season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why isn't Drake Maye starting? Why first-round pick is still QB2