With the offseason workout program in full swing, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye spoke to the media for the first time this offseason on Thursday at Gillette Stadium.
Several things have transpired since we last heard from Maye, who has been around the facility preparing for his second season. Since he last spoke, the Pats have an entirely new coaching staff, added several notable free agents, and an 11-player draft class that included four selections on offense in the top-100 picks to build the roster around Maye. For obvious reasons, the Patriots second-year quarterback is "pumped" about the offseason moves.
On Thursday, Maye began his press conference by discussing his first impressions of head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Maye and McDaniels are expected to be tied at the hip this season, with the Pats QB focusing on learning McDaniels's system and its terminology during a teaching period of the NFL calendar for coaches.
"It's been awesome. It's been great with Coach [Vrabel]. He's come in here, and it seems like he's been here a while. He's so comfortable being a coach," Maye said. "He's done it before, he's done it at a high level, won a lot of games. Looking forward to getting things going. You can see he's trying to install a new identity. I think we're building toward that."
As for his early work with his new offensive coordinator, Maye is excited about the system and working relationship he already has with McDaniels. Along with giving his input on the playbook, Maye will also have more control of the offense at the line of scrimmage. Last season, the pre-snap communication ran through the center, but historically, the quarterback has had the last word at the line of scrimmage in McDaniels's offense.
"The ball's in my hands, I think you want that. I hold the pin last – that's what they say. That's what you want. I get the best view of the defense. You're the one who has to know where everyone is at, what everyone is doing," Maye said. "It'll be great for me to take the next step and take command of sending the guys up front where to go. I'm looking forward to it."
Although his base schemes will likely remain the same, one would expect that McDaniels will adjust his offense to Maye's strengths. From that standpoint, the typical rule of thumb is that the system's terminology remains mostly the same year-to-year, but that the plays themselves adapt to the personnel. When we talk about offensive systems, that's how players and coaches speak to communicate plays, but the play designs themselves will adjust to the individual players in a given season.
"So far, with McDaniels, it's been awesome," Maye said of his new offensive coordinator. "I think his way – he's been an offensive coordinator and head coach. He does it at a high level. That stuff works. The proof is in the pudding. He's coached a lot of different guys. He coached the best to ever do it [Tom Brady]. So it's pretty cool getting to watch the old things of Tom, and seeing how he does it. A bunch of different guys play at a high level in the offense."
As for giving his input on the schemes the Patriots will run next season, McDaniels is giving his 22-year-old quarterback a voice in those discussions as the Patriots build the playbook.
"Coach [McDaniels] has been great with asking about stuff I like. Stuff I like from last year that we ran, stuff that I like that they do that I've seen on film. I think it'll be good for us because we'll be able to do a lot. It'll be a challenge to find out exactly what is or will be our stuff. That's the fun part. That's the chess match," Maye said.
For Maye, all systems are a go from a coach-player relationship standpoint. During Thursday's press conference, the other talking point was getting the quarterback's two cents on an active offseason. In free agency, the Pats added star receiver Stefon Diggs, veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and others. Then, as mentioned, the top of New England's draft class was offense-heavy with OT Will Campbell, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Kyle Williams, and C Jared Wilson.
"I'm pumped. I think a lot of new faces, a lot of guys, a lot of veterans that played at a high level. I think we found answers at a lot of different spots that can plug and play. I think that's what the point of free agency is, to get guys that can help us win, help us win now," Maye said.
More specifically, Maye was asked about the addition of Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler with six career 1,000-yard seasons. Maye is excited about throwing the ball to Diggs this upcoming season, noting that he had the star wideout on his fantasy team in high school.
"Stefon, he's one of those guys growing up when I was in high school he was young in the league. I had him on my fantasy team and things like that, playing with him in Madden. So it's pretty cool to hopefully now this season be throwing to him," Maye said. "He's coming back obvioulsy from injury and looks like he's doing great. He's been around. I think it's just going to be cool to throw to a receiver who's made plays like he has, who's made big plays in playoff games, who's been in different schemes, who's played with high-level quarterbacks."
Along with adding Diggs to the wide receiver room, the Patriots also selected Campbell as the fourth overall pick in last week's NFL Draft. Campbell was picked to protect Maye's blindside at left tackle following a season where New England ranked 31st in pass-blocking win rate. Maye was watching the draft live when Campbell said he plans to "fight and die" for his new quarterback.
"Man, that gets you going, gets your juices going. It makes me want to go out there and play football now," Maye said. "Pumped that we picked Will. I got a chance to meet him when he came in on Friday, so pumped to get things going. He just seems like a football player. That's what you want around here."
The Patriots offense is trending in the right direction with a veteran coaching staff, a promising second-year quarterback, and several key offseason additions. Although we are a long way away from playing games, it's encouraging to hear from Maye about all the good things happening as the team lays the foundation for a successful 2025 season.
The last thing that Maye said as he walked off the podium: "Thanks, y'all. Go Pats."
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
