NFL Insider Highlights ‘Overreaction’ To Patriots’ Week 3 Disaster

The Patriots made a quarterback change Thursday night, but it shouldn't and isn't expected to be permanent.

Drake Maye unexpectedly made his NFL debut late in the fourth quarter of New England's nightmarish Week 3 loss to the New York Jets. Maye's emergence from the sideline at MetLife Stadium had some fans wondering if the Patriots will stick with the rookie behind center and bump Jacoby Brissett down to second string.

But if you ask ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano, that line of thinking was an overreaction.

"One of the reasons the Patriots went with Brissett was because they worried about playing Maye behind a suspect line and having him experience too much early-career negativity that didn't have anything to do with him," Graziano wrote in a column published Sunday night. "And they're right. More young quarterbacks get ruined than made in this league, and the Pats took Maye with the third pick believing he would be their long-term franchise QB. They can't risk a situation in which his confidence gets shattered in his first season, and they should resist the temptation to play him over Brissett until the group around him looks at least a little bit more reliable."

Jerod Mayo on Friday morning shut down the idea of Maye staying on the field in wake of his NFL debut, noting Brissett will remain New England's starter until further notice. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt also firmly believes it's in Maye's best interest to wait in the wings at this juncture.

Maye's time will come for the Patriots. But for so many reasons, New England shouldn't be itching to get him on the gridiron.