It’s a new era in New England.

After five weeks of watching starter Jacoby Brissett’s quarterback play be one of the least productive offenses in the NFL, the Patriots are making a change. According to multiple team sources, they will face the Texans in Week 6 with rookie No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye.

Here are five things to know about the pick before we hear from head coach Jerod Mayo and others within the organization Wednesday afternoon at One Patriot Place…

MYes, it’s done…enough

Is he fully prepared for what lies ahead? Will he be able to handle all of the in-game adjustments and be comfortable with any situation that comes his way? Of course not. But like most young signal-callers, that probably won’t happen until Maye is several years into his pro career.

From the end of training camp to today, he has shown that he is capable of taking the field and competing. That’s why the Patriots felt comfortable with him as a backup in Week 1, just moments away from important reps.

By Mayo’s admission, Maye surpassed Brissett at the end of training camp after a late summer push that saw him handle his position with more confidence and determination. Previously, it appeared to some decision makers that Maye would defer to veteran Brissett. But he responded to the tough coaching in camp and ultimately advocated accepting the starting job straight away.

The Patriots chose Brissett, but since then Maye has only impressed with his performance on the practice field. He has received 30 percent of starting reps and his ability to play within the structure has steadily improved – both in the Patriots’ offense and in the opposing offense when asked to lead the scout team.

Understanding that practice doesn’t fully replicate game reps, he impresses his teammates with how he handled blitzes and third-down scenarios. And his athleticism and arm strength were evident.

NGet him moving

A team source stated that Mayes’ ability to get on the move and make plays with his legs is one of the reasons the Patriots – who have been forced to play off-schedule due to a patchwork offensive line – are turning to him and hope for better results.

Expect the Patriots’ offense to be streamlined by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who believes getting around players on the field is crucial. That could mean more shotgun formations and more move-the-pocket concepts for the rookie.

An agile athlete with the ability to throw himself off the platform, Maye’s running ability should help extend drives, but his ability to buy himself more time behind the line – not to mention the aggressive mindset he had in college showed to test the defense – could make the Patriots a more dynamic passing attack.

Brissett ranks 18th in the NFL among qualified quarterbacks with a deep passing percentage (the pass goes at least 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage) of 11.1. But he ranks 33rd out of 35 passers in completion percentage (20 percent) and 34th in yards per attempt (4.5). Given that the Patriots’ offense falls into various offensive statistical categories, the team is hoping Mayes’ physical abilities will give them a boost.

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The challenge for Van Pelt and the offensive staff will be using Maye’s legs in a way that benefits the offense while trying to get him to master the footwork he has been taught since arriving in Foxboro. Van Pelt told me that in his only regular-season action so far, 16 snaps against the Jets in Week 3, he saw Maye’s footwork practice scrapped under the threat of pressure.

“There were some things that needed to be corrected,” he said. “This is usually the case when you first go for live bullets. It can change your feet and cause them to fall back. … We’re still developing that.”

“But the progress he’s made over the course of the spring, summer camp and preseason games means he’s obviously capable of improving and getting to the next level. But there are a few things we can fix.” The game was a great learning experience for him and he will get better from it.

TGood place for Brissett

According to NextGen Stats, the Patriots lead the NFL in pressure percentage allowed at 48.3 percent. Perhaps this is even more concerning for the Patriots? The team also leads the league unlocked Pressure rate of 13.5 percent. At some point, even a seasoned veteran like Brissett would feel the effects of all that pressure – not to mention the 49 hits he took in five games.

One coach pointed to a replay during the loss to the 49ers as an indication of what the team – and Brissett in particular – struggled under pressure.

On a three-step drop designed to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly, Brissett fired hard into the chest while hitting Ja’Lynn Polk down the left sideline for a 21-yard back- Shoulder finish achieved. The throw was on point. Nevertheless, the pressure placed on this representative was alarming.

The Patriots’ inability to perform well in the passing game has been a source of frustration for the coaching staff since training camp and was evident in the regular season as early as Week 2 against the Seahawks, when Brisstt threw for 149 yards (5.5) per attempt ) in an overtime loss.

Brissett slowly walked out of the locker room Sunday after a loss to the Dolphins. He moved cautiously and lowered his head. While Brissett’s toughness in the face of physical injury was admirable – coaches and players alike praised him for his leadership in difficult circumstances – Mayo clearly felt there were still plays left on the field on Sunday that could have been made if that had been the case The quarterback play was better.

“It just wasn’t good enough,” Mayo said. “I thought we played well enough on defense and special teams to win the football game.”

“Look, as a quarterback, and he understands this, he touches the ball every single play and we didn’t win the game or score enough points to win the game. I think he would echo the same feeling it was.” “It’s not good enough.”

Tom E. Curran weighs in on the news that the Patriots will face rookie Drake Maye against the Texans on Sunday.

“Progress” from the line

There was optimism in the building on Monday that the Patriots could play the same offensive line in two consecutive weeks on Sunday against the Texans for the first time this season.

Against Miami, New England had five different players at the five different positions compared to the unit used the week before against the Niners: left tackle Vederian Lowe, left guard Michael Jordan, center Nick Leverett, right guard Mike Onwenu and right Tackle Demontrey Jacobs. While they were far from perfect – they allowed nine pressures in under 2.5 seconds and six of them in under 2.0 seconds – Mayo praised them for showing some “progress” in their last outing.

The team said Maye’s start date was not affected by David Andrews’ season-ending shoulder problem in Week 4. However, the unclear nature of the pass protectors at the top was a concern for the team’s decision makers as it related to Maye’s timeline.

Sunday’s game against the Texans will provide a greater challenge for Maye’s blockers. Houston has accumulated the fourth-most pressures in the NFL over the last five weeks (73) and is the owner of the NFL’s highest pressure rate (42 percent) thanks to edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson.

That had been building up

The Patriots always planned to play Maye this year. According to sources, they planned to play him enough to see what he was made of before assembling the squad for his second campaign. It didn’t matter if the line looked porous all year long or if the receivers constantly had trouble getting separation. He would play and play a significant amount.

The Patriots had set a window of several weeks for Maye’s debut, hoping to give themselves the best opportunity to A) bring him in for extended assignments and B) give him a chance to succeed by giving him a line , which was clear to some degrees (understanding that it would always be limited).

Has this schedule been accelerated? Mayo will answer that question on Wednesday. Last week, before the Dolphins game, there were indications from team sources that this move was imminent.

A manager from the opposing team expressed surprise at the decision to name Maye the starter, saying that sticking with Brissett and giving Maye more time behind the scenes was “the best approach.”

But the Patriots were desperate for offensive improvement. And they had one possible answer: the face of the franchise sitting on the bench. Healthy. Practice well. I’m waiting for a chance.

Now the Patriots are hoping he gives them one.