Patriots Announce Polarizing Starter Has Officially Been Benched

Patriots fans rejoice. The long wait is over. Jacoby Brissett has officially been benched and Drake Maye will start under center in Week 6 against the Houston Texans.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the team is officially planning to start the No. 3 overall pick on Sunday.

NFL News: Drake Maye Starting for Patriots in Week 6 vs. Texans

This is a huge development for the Patriots. The offensive unit was struggling immensely as New England ranked second-to-last in points and bottom-five in yards through five games. Brissett had thrown for 696 yards and two touchdowns with a 58.5% completion rate.

While it is true that the Patriots aren't trying to win games this season, Brissett under center wasn't a sustainable situation. Yes, the veteran is less mistake-prone and the offensive line has been a disaster all season. However, having Brissett out there severely caps your offensive upside while limiting the development of your young players.

Maye is unlikely to be the panacea to the Patriots' problems. The offensive line is depleted and the team suffered too many injuries to key veterans. The wide receiver corps is less than ideal.

Yet, is Maye really going to be worse than Brissett? The 31-year-old quarterback ranks 28th in PFF grades among starting signal-callers. The Patriots have one of the worst offenses in the league.

The prized rookie will likely make more mistakes. He will presumably allow more sacks and throw more interceptions. Yet, there will almost certainly be more excitement and upside to the offense. He will also get valuable developmental reps. So, this is as no-brainer of a move as it gets in the NFL.

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