During the Patriots’ first OTA practice at Gillette Stadium, head coach Jerod Mayo hinted that the team would not maintain its current roster of four quarterbacks by the time training camp begins. Currently, the Patriots will keep four quarterbacks throughout the spring, which includes 10 OTA practices and three mandatory minicamp sessions. Mayo emphasized that the roster would be trimmed down come training camp.
“Once we get to training camp, that’s real football,” Mayo said before Monday’s practice. “Out here in the spring we’ll rock with four. But as soon as we get to training camp, we’ll look to start paring down the roster.”
Among the quarterbacks, veteran Jacoby Brissett, who joined the Patriots this offseason, led the drills. He was followed by Bailey Zappe, first-round pick Drake Maye, and sixth-rounder Joe Milton III, in that order.
“All of these guys will get opportunities,” Mayo stated. “It’s not about the number of reps; it’s about the quality of those reps. That’s what I really preach.”
Mayo praised Maye, noting that the No. 3 overall pick had already demonstrated what the coaches wanted to see on and off the field. He mentioned seeing Maye studying by himself in the quarterback room multiple times.
Despite speculation that Zappe might be the most likely to be cut due to Milton’s potential, Mayo has been impressed by Zappe’s performance and his experience starting NFL games, something neither Maye nor Milton has.
“Honestly, I think about Zappe as a true professional,” Mayo said. “We drafted two quarterbacks, so obviously he’s competing with those guys. But at the same time, he’s an open book and a resource. He has started games in this league, which the other two haven’t.”
The Patriots have 12 more sessions scheduled for the spring, with the final practice set for June 13. This practice might mark the end of the road for one of the quarterbacks as the team prepares to cut down the roster for training camp.
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