Patriots, Drake Maye reportedly agree to terms on rookie deal
There will be a few obstacles - from the veteran competition in front of him to his own ability to develop and adapt to the pro game - that will potentially affect when Drake Maye takes the field as the starting quarterback of the New England Patriots. One thing we know that won’t prevent him from elevating eventually to QB1 status? Money.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Patriots and their third overall pick have agreed to terms on a rookie deal. The contract is a four-year deal and as with all first-round rookie deals, the team holds a fifth-year option (which must be picked up the spring before the player’s fourth season).
Terms of the deal have not been announced. However, since a rookie wage scale has been instituted there is an allotted amount for each pick from first overall to 32. Thus, according to Sportico, Maye’s deal should be worth something in the neighborhood of $36 million with just over $23 million guaranteed. Not quite what third overall picks used to get, but pretty good money for someone that’s not even 22 years old and has never played a down in the NFL.
As for when Maye will step onto the field and validate the franchise’s significant investment in him, time will tell as Patriots Executive VP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf said the team does in fact have a starting QB right now, and it’s not Drake Maye.
Appearing on FanDuel TV’s Up & Adams Show on Tuesday, Wolf said veteran Jacoby Brissett is the first-team QB as of now and that the team has been very impressed with him on and off the field. As for Maye, Wolf intimated he has his work cut out for him.
“Let’s be honest, we’ve had him for three weeks now. There’s a long way to go for our rookies,” he said.
We know Maye is the future under center in Foxboro, but it appears his team is going to make him earn the starting gig. And he’d probably have it no other way.
The next chance to take in Brissett, Maye, recently signed fourth-round wide receiver Javon Baker and all the other Pats players will be this Wednesday at the next installment of Patriots 2024 OTAs. Don’t miss our own Andy Hart bringing you a fresh 6 Rings & Football Things practice reaction podcast right after practice’s conclusion.
