One of many largest storylines hovering over the New England Patriots this spring entails the truth that outsiders anticipate second-year quarterback Drake Maye will make a giant leap whereas studying beneath first-year New England head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels following McDaniels’ return to the group.
Whereas talking with reporters on Tuesday, Patriots extensive receiver Kendrick Bourne supplied considerably of a warning to the remainder of the NFL concerning what Maye is immediately in comparison with what the 22-year-old was as a rookie final spring.
“The boldness is there, possibly much more confidence,” Bourne mentioned about Maye, as shared by Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. “Clearly, he’s gonna be in a brand new system. So I believe he’s in that course of. He’s studying. However the confidence is there. Drake is a competitor. Once we do sure issues, like, his aggressive spirit is beginning to present extra, for my part, which I really like. Popping out of that shell, you recognize he’s gonna turn out to be a vet. So I believe that’s what he’s embracing. He understands. He’s conversant in what to anticipate, what to really feel, and that simply creates a greater, assured quarterback going into Yr 2.”
The Patriots clearly entered this offseason with the objective in thoughts of constructing round Maye after he impressed all through his debut professional marketing campaign. New England signed extensive receiver Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69M contract, and the membership later spent worthwhile draft picks on “high-character gamers” akin to offensive deal with Will Campbell, operating again TreVeyon Henderson and extensive receiver Kyle Williams.
Following the 2025 draft, Patriots government vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf famous that he anticipated Maye to develop as a frontrunner throughout his first NFL offseason as a full-time QB1. Bourne indicated Maye’s aggressive nature is all a part of that course of.
“It creates us to be higher,” Bourne added about how Maye’s character is impacting the locker room throughout springtime exercises. “We wish to beat one another in a race, or no matter it’s, conditioning and issues like that. Whenever you do issues and he simply competes, and also you like to see that from the quarterback.”
Maye went simply 3-9 as a starter final season whereas enjoying beneath one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo. The franchise continues to be within the early levels of its second reset in two years, nevertheless it appears like Maye has already completed nicely to answer Wolf’s problem because it pertains to behind-the-scenes work.
