Brissett 'excited' to compete for QB1 job with Maye

The New England Patriots drafted Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and veteran Jacoby Brissett is ready to compete with the rookie quarterback for the team's starting role.

"I'm excited to have him on the team, and the other guys as well that we drafted and picked up. I think it's going to be good," Brissett said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.

"Competition brings out the best in all of us, so I'm excited about that part."

Brissett signed a one-year, $8-million contract in March to join the Patriots for a second stint with the team. Maye - one of the top prospects of the 2024 class - went to New England as the third quarterback off the board last week.

The Pats drafted Brissett in the third round in 2016 and then traded him to the Indianapolis Colts a year later. In addition to the Colts (2017-20), the 31-year-old has spent time with the Miami Dolphins (2021), Cleveland Browns (2022), and Washington Commanders (2023).

A strong-armed signal-caller with plenty of experience, Brissett didn't start any games in 2023 but has made 48 starts throughout his career. The NC State product said he's excited by what the Patriots - who named Jerod Mayo as head coach to replace Bill Belichick this year - have been building.

"It's definitely different than when I was here last time - neither good nor bad," Brissett said. "You can see the excitement from the guys, and from (Mayo), and from the coaching staff."

The Patriots have had four different starting quarterbacks since Tom Brady left the team in 2020. Along with Brissett and Maye, New England's current QB depth chart features Bailey Zappe, Nathan Rourke, and sixth-round rookie Joe Milton.

Mayo recently said that he's looking forward to his club's quarterback competition, adding that the "best player will start," according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.