The New England Patriots’ pursuit of a franchise quarterback has seemingly come to a close with Drake Maye entering his third season at the helm of the offense.
After leading a previously 4-13 team to the Super Bowl and missing out on an MVP trophy by one vote, the 23-year-old, alongside offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, has a chance to build upon the foundation laid during last season’s Super Bowl run.
In this next edition of our 2026 Patriots training camp preview series, we’ll take a look at New
England’s quarterback room in its entirety and discuss the biggest takeaways heading into the summer practices. Veterans will report to the facility on July 24.
*Denotes player on the Pats Pulpit 53-man roster projection
Depth chart
Starter: Drake Maye (23)* | Backups: Tommy DeVito (27)*, Behren Morton (24/R)*
Following the Super Bowl loss, Patriots brass attacked the offseason by surrounding their new franchise quarterback with the tools needed to win a championship.
The team began by releasing veteran Stefon Diggs and opting to spend significant resources on adding Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion A.J. Brown, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs and vertical-threat tight end Eli Raridon in the draft.
In addition, New England signed impact left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker before drafting offensive tackles Caleb Lomu in the first round and Dametrious Crownover in the sixth.
As a result, expectations will somehow be even higher for Maye and McDaniels entering 2026.
Furthermore, fourth-year quarterback Tommy DeVito is now the primary backup after sitting third on the depth chart in 2025 behind Joshua Dobbs. The Patriots moved quickly to re-sign DeVito early in the offseason, signaling confidence in him as the go-to substitute.
Meanwhile, seventh-round draft selection Behren Morton occupies the final spot in the room. His practice reps increased substantially over the course of mandatory minicamp, delivering 11 pass attempts during the final practice, compared to zero in the first two sessions.
Key Question: Do the Patriots have enough help behind Maye?
Maye started all 17 games last season, but possible head injuries have been a concern throughout his first two years in the league. Beyond suffering a concussion as a rookie, he underwent two sideline evaluations in 2025 after hitting his head on the turf against the Steelers in Week 3 and the Titans in Week 7.
Dobbs had to make a brief appearance in Tennessee after Maye hit the ground. For that reason, DeVito could be forced into action at some point next season.
For New England, the hope is that DeVito can develop into an effective spot starter in 2026 who can lead the offense downfield when needed. Potential drawbacks also arise when considering how conservative the offense becomes if DeVito ever has to step in.
However, DeVito has a history of being a capable backup with the Giants, going on a three-game winning streak in 2023, taking down the Commanders, Patriots and Packers.
The contest against Green Bay was one of his most memorable games, being awarded the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for a game-winning drive to set up the go-ahead field goal in New York’s favor.
Morton’s development is another important variable in this equation. If DeVito struggles in an expanded role, New England may turn to the rookie. Otherwise, the Patriots could be eyeing the veteran market down the line.
X-Factor: Josh McDaniels
Maye is entering the second year of McDaniels’ offensive system. The coaching staff’s next step is to improve the quarterbacks’ mental processing, an area in which the 23-year-old has shown progress throughout the spring.
“We’re trying to weaponize Drake’s mind, and all the quarterbacks’ minds,” quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant said earlier this offseason. “As opposed to just being throwers of the football, we want them to be operators of the offense.”
McDaniels also mentioned that this offseason is different from last year, as the focus has shifted toward reaching the “next level” in understanding the offense’s language and how to operate.
According to McDaniels, Maye knows “a hell of a lot more than he did last year at this time.” Maye looked the part throughout the spring practice sessions as well, dealing with increased offensive tempo and having to diagnose looks and assignments under more pressure.
First-round draft selection Caleb Lomu previously said during minicamp that Maye has constantly been in his ear since he was drafted, offering help whenever the rookie offensive tackle needs it.
But in Maye’s development, McDaniels will be the key to propelling him even further.
