When should the Patriots play Maye? Jets reporter shares key context, originally published on NBC Sports Boston

As the New England Patriots consider how to handle rookie quarterback Drake Maye, they may want to consider the recent history of their Week 3 opponent.

The New York Jets have experience ruining young quarterbacks, from Geno Smith to Bryce Petty to Christian Hackenberg to Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. Darnold and Wilson were the No. 3 and No. 2 picks in the draft, respectively, and both did not make it past their rookie contracts in New York.

The Patriots seem wary of following in the Jets’ footsteps. Experienced Jacoby Brissett is set to be the team’s starter for the foreseeable future while Maye develops on the bench. But is New England being too cautious with the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft? Should Maye get on the field sooner rather than later, especially if the Patriots’ season falters?

SNY’s Connor Hughes, who has covered the Jets for the past 10 years, was with Tom E. Curran in the latest Patriots Talk Podcast to share his perspective on the Maye debate based on what he experienced in New York.

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“I think what New England is doing right now by playing Jacoby — and I don’t know if people are up there yelling and cheering for Maye — you might put the rookie (QB) on the field if the receivers aren’t that good, but you want to at least have the offensive line,” Hughes said. “You don’t want him to get beat over and over again.”

Hughes highlighted Darnold as a prime example of how a quarterback can be affected by the situation he is in. The 2018 first-round pick was a disaster in both New York and Carolina, struggling with dysfunctional offenses, but performed brilliantly in two games in Minnesota, throwing for 476 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions and leading the Vikings to a 2-0 record.

“I think Sam Darnold’s recent experience in Minnesota is the best analogy for what a player can do that has the physical talent. (And) now he’s in a really good situation with coaches and players around him,” Hughes said. “That’s the one thing Sam didn’t have at all with the Jets. That’s something Sam didn’t have in Carolina when he was there. And now you see him with some receivers, coaches and an offensive line, and he’s playing pretty good football.

“…The last thing you want to do is emulate what (Darnold) went through with the Jets versus what he’s going through now. So if that means the rookie sits on the bench for a while and maybe only lasts the last three or four games of the season until that line can be strengthened or another playmaker can be added, then I think that’s probably the best option for the Patriots.”

New England’s offensive line has struggled in pass defense over the past two games, and the Patriots are well aware of the impact pressure can have on a quarterback after the past two seasons with Mac Jones. Darnold is another cautionary tale and perhaps another reason to bench Maye until the team’s offensive situation improves.

Also in this episode:

• What did Aaron Rodgers and the Jets offense look like after two weeks?

• Connor explains why the Jets’ running game is even better than claimed

• Are there any areas in the Jets defense that New England’s offense can exploit on Thursday night?

• Tom explains why it’s inevitable that Drake Maye will play this season – and why that might happen sooner than the team would like