Drake Maye and Mac Jones (Photos via Getty Images)
Drake Maye was all smiles after a fan handed him their old Mac Jones jersey while he signed autographs at practice.

The rookie replaced Jones on the New England Patriots roster this year, though he isn’t expected to start for the team next season.

Things will be very different in Foxborough this year, with both Bill Belichick and Jones gone. New head coach Jerod Mayo will have his work cut out for him, and he’s well aware that the quarterback position could make or break him.

Maye, who was drafted third overall back in April, is the future of the Patriots franchise, but he’s likely to be incorporated slowly.

Given Jones’ mostly disappointing spell with the team, fans are okay with the change. One of them brought their old jersey with the name crossed out to training camp to get signed. Maye, whose name was written at the top of Jones’ X-ed-out name, couldn’t hide how funny he found this as he handed out autographs.

“Wait, this is WILDD😂😂😂,” another wrote.

“Bro already knows he’s better than Mac Jones,” someone else suggested.

“I love this guy🤣🤣,” remarked another.

Drake Maye Will Do Well To Avoid The Mac Jones Path

Drake Maye has a lot riding on his shoulders. He will be expected to revive a franchise that has been floundering since Tom Brady’s departure. Mac Jones clearly wasn’t the answer, but Bill Belichick is mostly to blame, having made massive mistakes in his attempts at developing the quarterback.

Belichick didn’t exactly put Jones in a position to succeed with his staff hires, so much so that the player sought advice behind his back.

Fans will hope that Maye’s career will be handled differently. It doesn’t appear that he will be thrown into the deep end just yet, with Jacoby Brissett to start next season.

But it won’t be very long before fans get to see their lottery pick controlling things in the backfield.