Is Drake Maye playing in the Patriots preseason finale vs. the Washington Commanders?

The New England Patriots head into their final NFL preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday with rookie quarterback Drake Maye pushing veteran Jacoby Brissett for a starting spot.

Which quarterback will start the regular season for the Patriots?

Pats head coach Jerod Mayo has consistently stated Brissett, who has eight seasons in the NFL under his belt, would be his starting quarterback when the regular season gets underway, but has also hinted the door wasn’t completely closed for Maye, who would get a chance to stake his claim through his training camp and preseason performances.

Maye was the third overall pick (and the third quarterback selected) in the 2024 NFL Draft, signing a fully-guaranteed contract worth $36.64 million at the end of May. The 21-year-old has been talked up by the Patriots as a quarterback who mirrors where they are as a team at the moment: a work in progress, with a high ceiling.

Brissett, considered a safe pair of hands, is therefore expected to start against in the first game of the NFL regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 8. Unless, that is, something drastic happens in Sunday’s preseason finale against the Commanders.

Maye’s first NFL preseason with with Patriots

Maye was sidelined for most of the first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on August 9, which the Pats convincingly won 17-3 with backup Bailey Zappe seeing the most action. However, the South Carolina native played the entirety of the second quarter and part of the third against the Philadelphia Eagles on August 16, showing flashes of what he is capable of.

Mayo has revealed all four quarterbacks on the Patriots roster will get game time on Sunday, with Brissett starting, followed by Maye, then Zappe and Joe Milton III.

Can the rookie do enough during his time on the field to put pressure on Brissett and give Mayo a decision to make ahead of the first Game of the season against the Bengals?