The New England Patriots entered the 2026 season with uncertainty surrounding their quarterback depth behind their starter. While the team has stability at the top of the position, its backup options provide limited experience and leave little margin for error if injuries strike.
New England’s quarterback room is led by Drake Maye, who has established himself as the franchise’s starter after entering the league with significant expectations. Behind him, the Patriots have Tommy DeVito and rookie quarterback Joshua Dobbs, creating a group that lacks the extensive starting experience found in some other quarterback rooms.
Aug 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) throws the ball during the third quarter against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images
DeVito has spent time around the league and has made NFL starts, giving him some familiarity with regular-season pressure. However, his limited body of work makes him an uncertain option if he were suddenly asked to carry the offense for an extended period, particularly with the demands placed on a starting quarterback throughout a full season.
The Patriots also have Dobbs, who brings athletic ability and experience from previous stops around the NFL. Still, the team would be asking him to step into a difficult role if Maye were unavailable, and the lack of a proven veteran starter behind the young quarterback remains a significant concern for New England.
New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) gets ready to throw a pass, Thursday, August 21, 2025, in East Rutherford.
New England’s backup quarterback situation isn’t looking good this early into the season. This is detailed more in an analysis by Garrett Podell for CBS Sports.
Tommy DeVito was a fun flash in the pan for the New York Giants in 2023 as he won three of his six starts. He had a decent touchdown-to-interception ratio of 8-3, but some of his efficiency metrics painted a darker picture. He completed just 64% of his passes (114-of-178) and was sacked 37 times in 9 games that year, six of which were starts. DeVito’s 17.2% sack rate ranked as the highest in the NFL among 37 quarterbacks who threw at least 175 passes that season.
In three games played in 2024, two of which were starts, the accuracy improved as he connected on 31 of his 44 throws (70.5% completion percentage), but he failed to throw a touchdown and was sacked six times. DeVito didn’t appear in any regular-season games in 2025, so if 2025 NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye goes down, anything could happen.
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Tommy DeVito was a fun flash in the pan for the New York Giants in 2023 as he won three of his six starts. He had a decent touchdown-to-interception ratio of 8-3, but some of his efficiency metrics painted a darker picture. He completed just 64% of his passes (114-of-178) and was sacked 37 times in 9 games that year, six of which were starts. DeVito’s 17.2% sack rate ranked as the highest in the NFL among 37 quarterbacks who threw at least 175 passes that season.
In three games played in 2024, two of which were starts, the accuracy improved as he connected on 31 of his 44 throws (70.5% completion percentage), but he failed to throw a touchdown and was sacked six times. DeVito didn’t appear in any regular-season games in 2025, so if 2025 NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye goes down, anything could happen.
The issue becomes more important because Maye represents such a central part of the Patriots’ offensive plans. His ability to create plays with his arm and legs gives the offense a unique dimension, meaning replacing him would require more than simply finding another player to execute the same system.
For now, the Patriots can only hope their quarterback depth remains a theoretical concern rather than a problem they must address during the season. DeVito and Dobbs provide options if needed, but the lack of a clearly established backup with extensive starting experience leaves New England vulnerable should its young quarterback miss significant time.
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