FOXBORO — The Patriots certainly hope they found their next franchise quarterback in No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye, but they’re not ready to name him the starting quarterback for the 2024 season just yet.

New head coach Jerod Mayo made that clear immediately after the Patriots picked the UNC QB third overall on Thursday night.

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“We’re not sitting here saying Drake is our starting quarterback,” Mayo said. “He understands that. He understands the things he has to get better at. And with coaching and hard work and the coaches we have, the support system from ownership, I think he has the chance to go out there and play at a high level. You talk about potential all you want to, but until you reach it, it doesn’t matter.

“We do know the man. We know the man is a hard worker, and he’s going to do everything he can to be successful.”

The Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett to a one-year, $8 million contract this offseason. They still have Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke on their roster, as well, after trading Mac Jones to the Jaguars in March.

“To go back to Bill (Belichick), I don’t think many rookies are ready to just jump in and play. At the end of the day, our philosophy is the best players will play,” Mayo said. “Coming in as a rookie, hopefully, he’s a sponge. There are a lot of good players in that locker room, and look, Jacoby, he understands. He’s a mentor. He’s smart, has great leadership skills, and hopefully Drake can learn something from him, as well. But I would say we’re going to compete during training camp. The best player will start.”

Maye actually has a preexisting relationship with Brissett, who spent last season in the same quarterback room with another former UNC quarterback in Sam Howell. Maye said he spent time with Howell, whom he backed up at UNC in 2021, and Brissett last summer.

Maye is ready to support another starter if it comes down to that.

“I think my first thing is helping any way I can contribute. I’m prepared and ready to be the starter, but at the same time, as a young guy coming in there, it’s not given to you,” Maye said. “You gotta earn it. The NFL is someplace you have to work your butt off. My job is to go in there and earn the guys’ respect. Help whoever is the starter if I’m not be the best player they can and help the team win.”