Business is picking up in New England, as Jacoby Brissett will battle rookie first-round pick Drake Maye for the starting quarterback job out of camp.
Despite not getting any first-team reps in organized team activities, Brissett is the clear favorite to start Week 1 in Cincinnati, according to DraftKings, who assigned him -300 odds to be under center.
Those odds give Brissett a 75 percent chance to grab the Week 1 nod, with Maye coming in at +225 or 30.77 percent implied. DraftKings is taking a 5.77 percent vig off the top of the market.
It’s clear the Patriots view Maye as their quarterback of the future, having selected him with the No. 3 pick, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to take the Patriot’s first offensive snap.
First-year coach Jarod Mayo said after rookie mini camp that Maye “has a lot to work on,” but he had no doubt that Maye would “put in the work.”
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk also speculated on these comments by saying the Patriots are “trying to set up a scenario where Jacoby Brissett starts this year and maybe the whole year, while Drake Maye sits and learns.”
Still, during OTAs Maye was seen taking snaps from starting center David Andrews, while Brissett took snaps from backup Antonio Mafi.
The team posted those photos on its website, leading to some speculation that the rookie could start quicker than people think.
However, Maye is very young, just 22 by the season’s start, and the Patriots have some of the worst offensive weapons in the NFL.
With a capable backup on the roster in Brissett, it’s possible the Patriots could let Maye start the year on the bench before taking over for good.
Brissett spent some time with the Patriots in the past, acting as Tom Brady’s backup in 2016 before being traded to the Colts in exchange for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett
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The ex-Patriot has since played for four different teams, including three different ones in his past three years.
Brissett is actually a worthy bet here at -300 odds if you’re willing to tie up a decent sum of money in the hopes of snagging a 33.3 percent return on investment.
PICK: Brissett starts Week 1 for the Patriots (-300, DraftKings)