PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
PRESS CONFERENCE
August 25, 2025
Q: What did you feel you got accomplished today at practice?
DM: Really, I think just keep on going, us versus our defense. I think it's always great work with the guys they've got over there, the different stuff they do. Then really just us; keep working on communication, knowing our rules, following our rules and building chemistry to get ready for Week 1. I've been proud of the guys the last two days of taking this time to get better and not using it as a relaxed week. I think we're trying to get after it and get ready for Week 1.
Q: Are you satisfied with the foundation that's been laid after everything from the spring, through the summer to now the end of training camp?
DM: We've just been trying to buy in. Coach [Mike] Vrabel came here and made it clear from day one, 'Hey, drop your egos at the door.' We're here to work; we want guys to finish, work hard and give effort. I think we're starting to see that and build that, and we've just got to keep working and bring it to the field Week 1. So, I'm just trying to do my part, try to come out here every day and try to get better.
Q: What aspect of being the quarterback makes you the most nervous right now as you prepare for your first career Week 1 start?
DM: What aspect of being the quarterback makes me most nervous? I wouldn't say nervous, I think just anxious to get out there. We're going to be in front of a home crowd, hopefully a good crowd. Nerves-wise, I think I get nervous about the same amount every game out there. Back to high school, kind of the same. Not really nervous, just jitters getting out there. Once you get going in the game, I feel good. From here, just getting ready with the new guys. There are new guys we're playing with, so kind of building chemistry with them, probably, I'd say, in a game-like setting. But other than that, I wouldn't say nervous; I think just more excited and anxious.
Q: How would you describe the identity of this football team or what we're going to see in the regular season?
DM: Yeah, I think we're trying to build a team that's bringing it every play. No plays off, no days off. What Coach is trying to build, what the guys are trying to give into is, if you're not going to play hard, then – you can mess up and make a mistake, but do it at full speed. I think we're trying to bring that and play hard, play harder than the other team, be in good condition, then from there, just try to execute in situational football. I think that's what we're preaching. So many games are won and lost by one score and situations, so try to excel in that area, and from there, just take care of the football and give us a chance every week.
Q: Now that you've had the whole summer with Josh McDaniels, what's your level of excitement now that the three preseason games are out of the way, the next game is the season opener. What's your level of excitement working with him?
DM: I'm pumped up. I think any time you get a chance to go into a game, you see how the game plan works. You get to see a little bit of preseason, but now it's full-go, game planning the team and watching tape with him in there. Just seeing what he's seeing and try to be on the same page, that's the most fun part, I think, of playing the position. Trying to see something in the film room on Monday or Tuesday, go out there, do it in practice and execute in the games. That's kind of how the ritual goes, and it feels good when you see it on tape and accomplish something. So, just getting into the groove, and I think just having a coordinator who trusts me, puts full trust in the guys and myself, go out there and have some fun.
Q: Do you have any sense of what the game planning process is going to be like with Josh?
DM: Yeah, we got a little bit of sense of it in preseason. Obviously, it's different from the full week to get going with the guys. So, I'm excited, just trying to be all in on the Raiders and take one week at a time. Then from here, just try to take the little details, and like I said, follow our rules and go out there, be instinctive and play hard.
Q: How important is it to you to get Stefon [Diggs] involved, even on the practice field, and just feeding him targets and developing what you guys can put together?
DM: Shoot, he's a phenomenal player. What he can do, how much ball he's played and how many plays he's made, just try to give him the football. Whether it's extra work with him, extra work at practice or in the film room or trying to be on the same page. I think once he's got one-on-one matchups, or he feels zone – he knows coverage really well, so I think he can do a lot of things well. So, it's good for us to use him as much as he's able to handle. I think it's exciting to get out there, throw him a couple of balls and build the chemistry in practice. I think we've kind of built it here lately, and I think just kind of carry that into the season.
Q: Is there any pressure on you? He's a guy who's obviously accomplished a lot in his career. Is there any pressure on you as a young quarterback to make sure he gets the ball, make sure he's feeling good about where he's at?
DM: I wouldn't say pressure. I think he knows the plays, and I always try to tell the guys, 'Hey, if you're seeing something, hey, give me something on the sideline,' or something like that. But I'm going to try to throw to the guys that are open. If he's open a lot, then he'll get the ball a lot.
Q: You mentioned after the Minnesota game, after that first drive, you had a couple who were high. You just said, 'I just came out a little juiced up, a little fired up.' Do you have any strategies in mind for saying, 'Alright, how can I get out there and just relax at the beginning of games?' Because it's not unique to you. [Tom] Brady had it, [Brett] Favre had it, a lot of guys had it.
DM: Yeah, it's kind of like back in the day playing basketball: find a layup before you start shooting some threes. I think just whether it's a good run with the guys up front, the running backs or maybe an easy completion. But other than that, I think it's just getting out there, and I think that's part of it. Whether it's going to be jitters or going to be fired up, that's more what it is, just to kind of calm that. I think, use the guys around me as well. Use the guys around me to kind of feel like, 'Hey, if they're pumped up, I'm going to get a little pumped up,' but when I get out there, be cool, calm and collected.
Q: Cut down day tomorrow. Have you detected any anxiousness in the locker room or among the players as we approach it tomorrow?
DM: Yeah, it's always a tough day. I really got to experience it one time last year with the guys around the locker room. Obviously, you hear about it. There are so many guys out here that worked their butts off that are kind of fighting and crawling to make the team. Obviously, it's unfortunate for them and unfortunate for us who built a relationship with them. I remember the rookies, I felt like all those guys were with me in training camp and coming out of rookie minicamp, and the next thing you know, like that, we got down to 10 or 12 rookies in the locker room from 30. So, it was tough for me to realize that's the nature of the business. From there, just pump those guys up. You never know; you may see them again. You see [JaMycal] Hasty back out here and guys like that. So, you never know. The relationship's never over, and for those guys, just another step in the journey and try to stay in touch with them.
Q: Drake, in Josh McDaniels' offense, there are so many details. Are you at a place now where a month in, you're hitting the field and you're not thinking as much, you're just slinging first read, second read?
DM: Yeah, I think that's the goal of trying to get into it and feel like it comes second nature. Some of the protection stuff and some of the kind of day one, day two, even the stuff we're running mainly out here, I feel great. I feel great about it. Those guys are starting to get a good chemistry going, and those guys up front are blocking hard and playing well. So, I think it's just now, going into the season, is you're going to see a defense and study for it. There may be some unscouted looks, especially in Week 1 where you've got to just not take a negative play and take care of the football. From there, I'm just excited to get out there and get ready for Week 1.
