The Patriots aren’t messing around entering Sunday’s season-ending matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
Drake Maye will start at Gillette Stadium.
“Drake looked good yesterday,” Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said on Thursday, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. “He’s ready to go. He’ll be starting the game for sure.”
New England is looking to end its horrific season on a high note, but winning the finale would be a major misstep as it could very well knock the club out of contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Maye also briefly missed time in Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, so many wondered whether it would make sense to bench the rookie to ensure he finishes the season healthy and secure that top selection.
The Patriots won’t take that route but might look into different ways to ensure both of those outcomes.
Joe Milton III took some non-scout team snaps in Wednesday’s practice, according to Van Pelt, which could be a sign that he will be made active for the finale. The Patriots could play Maye in the first half and turn to Milton in the second half.
It’s probably not the easiest way to do things, but it might be the best.
