For Tommy DeVito, who turns 28 in August, settling in as the backup quarterback in Foxborough, behind Drake Maye with the New England Patriots, seems like a pretty solid career option.
Released by the Giants at the end of training camp 2025, DeVito was picked up by the Patriots a day later and held what amounted to basically the No. 3 emergency QB spot all year long, right through the Super Bowl.
The job is DeVito's to win
That spot was held behind Maye and Josh Dobbs, who saw time in four games. Dobbs is now a free agent.
The quarterback room at Gillette Stadium now features just Maye, DeVito and seventh-round draft pick Behren Morton.
It’s up to “Tommy Cutlets” as he was known as during his Giants years, to prove he can handle the job.
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With Maye in complete control, DeVito’s ceiling with the Patriots will be more of a Brian Hoyer role and less of a Jimmy Garoppolo.
The former was a sounding board for Tom Brady and the offensive staff, adding stability in the room, while the latter, drafted in the second round by Bill Belichick, had aspirations of being a starter, which he accomplished elsewhere. Garoppolo. actually took the Niners to the Super Bowl.
DeVito, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Giants after a college career that began in Syracuse and later moved to Illinois, got his chance in New York when injuries put him in the spotlight.
Stability, consistency are keys
He started six games as a rookie, eight overall, in his time there, going 3-5. There were flashes, for sure – three straight starts with 100-plus QB ratings including a three-TD, 246-yard passing game in a win over the Commanders. But the Patriots need an even-keeled rock of a backup, one who can help with Morton as New England tries to understand if they found something with the rookie.
“Getting to learn from (Maye) and also Tommy DeVito, it’s going to be a great opportunity for me,” Morton said.
The options will be out there for backups, like Dobbs, who are currently looking for work. DeVito faces a huge month of August, just to prove that he can and will be the guy.
