Even the most pessimistic of New England Patriots people could not have been ready for the 2023 season to be as much of a disaster as it has been. The Patriots are now 2-9 on the season after losing to the New York Giants 10-7 in Week 12.
A lot has gone wrong for the Patriots this season, but their most glaring weakness is the quarterback position. Mac Jones, a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has proven this season that he isn’t franchise quarterback material. He is completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 2,120 yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games.
Bill Belichick has benched him on three separate occasions, turning the offense over to Bailey Zappe. Zappe, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has not fared much better. He is completing 48.7 percent of his passes with zero touchdowns and two interceptions on the season.
The Patriots seem to be leaning toward starting Zappe in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but one thing is clear; neither player is the long-term answer in New England. More than likely, their 2024 starting quarterback is not on their roster currently.
NFL News & Rumors: Bill Belichick, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Drake Maye, New England Patriots Updates
Who could be the starter in 2024 and beyond? NFL analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic believes the answer will come via the 2024 NFL Draft. Brugler has predicted that the Patriots will come away with North Carolina quarterback, Drake Maye.
“With their quarterback situation in shambles, the Patriots have a bottom-five offense,” Brugler wrote.
This is a position New England is not used to being in, especially with Bill Belichick in charge. They are routinely challenging for playoff spots, not starting draft preparation in December.
Losing is not what anyone wants, but it at least comes with a nice prize as New England will be in a position to fill the void left by Tom Brady’s departure in 2020. Maye would be a nice consolation for suffering through one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
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