PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
PRESS CONFERENCE
September 3, 2025
Q: What are your thoughts on the Raiders defense from what you've studied and the challenges that they present?
DM: First off, with what Coach [Pete] Carroll has done in this league, they've had some great defenses and obviously his scheme. Obviously, [Maxx] Crosby jumps out on tape, and they've got some veteran linebackers, some guys that play hard and come up and hit you. I think they're good at what they do. You're going to know that they're going to bring it every play. For us, we've just got to stay ahead of the chains and try to do our best to get off to a good start. Then, like I said, just follow our keys. No. 98, he's a great player in this league, plays hard, plays with a lot of effort. They've got a couple of veteran safeties who have made some plays and have good ball skills. So, we've got to be on our game. It's good to be out there in Week 1, starting at home. So, I'm excited and looking forward to it.
Q: Drake, when it comes to Crosby, a lot of people look at the offensive line and how they handle him, but how can the rest of the offense maybe neutralize what he's able to do on the field?
DM: Yeah, no doubt. I think it starts with me getting the ball out on time, not holding it. Don't bypass the first guy open. I see [someone] open, trying to hunt a deeper one. The running backs can help in the protection; I think little things like that. I think scheme, me just getting us in the right plays, knowing when he's one-on-one and knowing when we have help to him. From there, just like I said, follow our keys and know if it's the emphasis for us this week, then just follow that and stay true to it.
Q: Are you comfortable enough in the new offense to be able to make those kind of quick reads and get rid of the ball quickly? Are you that comfortable with the offense and being able to read a defense and what's going to fit?
DM: Yes, ma'am. I think that's part of what we watch film for. That's part of what we come out here and practice for is knowing check downs and knowing, 'Hey, my first look, if they're giving it to me, take it.' That's part of playing quarterback in this league, finding completions, and I feel confident in myself. I feel like at times, last year, when I got the ball out on time and I got the ball to the right guy, we moved the ball well. So, I think just trying to start off this season with that mindset and like I said, stay ahead of the chains, do my part, finding completions and not holding the ball.
Q: What has it been like getting to know Stefon Diggs this offseason, and how excited are you just to (inaudible)?
DM: It's been awesome to bond with such a high-level player. I think it's going to continue to show as the game week and game day come closer and closer is kind of how much he's elevating his game and elevating his practice style. So, I'm looking forward to getting out there with him on Sunday. I think you'll see good energy from Stef, and I'm looking forward to getting him the rock and letting him do his thing.
Q: I just want to ask about another veteran in the room, Mack Hollins. What kind of energy does he bring to the offense and just the room as a whole?
DM: Yeah, it's constant. I think that's the best thing you see about Mack. He brings it every day. There are no off days, and he's working extra. He's drawing up plays, asking me to come to extra walkthroughs and doing things that show up on Sundays and show up in practice. So, I think from that, what else would you expect from a Tar Heel? So, he's just brought a great energy to the room. A veteran, does all the right things, blocks in the run game, and I think he's going to be rewarded with being in there and making plays.
Q: Josh [McDaniels] has coached against every defense, against Pete Carroll's defense a number of times. How confident do you feel having him in your corner, saying maybe, 'These are the things that I've seen, these are the things to be prepared for.' Have you gone back to watch, maybe, Super Bowl 49, for example?
DM: Yeah, going back to watch the Super Bowl, going back and watching the COVID game with Cam [Newton] when nobody's in the stands. I think it's great having Coach McDaniels, who's played against this defense and knows some extra little tidbits for me to know, whether it's in the huddle or before on this play. I think it's great to have a play caller in my corner who's played against this scheme in the Super Bowl. I studied a lot. I think that's with a lot of coordinators in this league. He's played against them and seen them, and I think it's great to have that in the room, trying to get on the same page with him as what he's seeing and try to catch up as much as I can to his level. I'm not going to get there, but try to. Just an understanding of, 'Hey, I think they're going to do this,' or 'Hey, this is what I think they're going to be in.' Then from there, yeah, watching old games, watching Cam Newton, watching Tom [Brady] in the Super Bowl was pretty cool.
Q: What have you learned from your co-captain, Hunter Henry, about just being a leader for this team and a professional in your second?
DM: Hunter, just the positive energy he brings to the huddle. I think with me balancing that with kind of being stern in the huddle and knowing that, 'Hey, I've got to get these guys going.' I think just bringing the positive energy. The thing about Hunter, he's one of my best friends on the team. He just shows up every day. He loves football. I think that's kind of what I'm learning from Hunter. He doesn't do it for anything else but for the love of the game. Whether he's running a clear-out route, catching a seam ball or blocking in the run game, he does it out of the sheer joy of wanting to win. I think we both share that same mindset of wanting to win.
Q: What was it like finding out that you're going to be a captain? Your teammates have voted for you to lead for this team.
DM: Yeah, I think it's a great honor. I think it means something, playing with the C on your chest. I learned that from Jacoby [Brissett] last year and some of those guys. David Andrews in the past. I think it's something that you don't take lightly. It's a great honor from your teammates and a team vote. It's something that also I feel like the starting quarterback can kind of, I wouldn't necessarily say be gifted it, but I think it's kind of one of those things where you go out there, earn it and prove to them I'm captain. That's kind of my mindset of proving to them of being a leader on this team and not taking it as a gift.
Q: Are you concerned about your Tar Heels?
DM: I wouldn't say yet; I wouldn't say yet. It was tough watching that Monday night. That first drive looked good, but I'm counting on those guys and coaches, and I'll be tuned in all season.
Q: In the past in this offense, not just McDaniels, but Bill O'Brien, the relationship between the quarterback, the play caller and the offensive coordinator, there was a lot of give and take as far as input on what you guys wanted to do in that game plan. Are you at that point yet, or is that more of a one-way street with you and Josh?
DM: Yeah, I think that's something you build throughout the season. It's something that I think he values my opinion, especially on the plays. I think he values my opinion on, 'Hey, out of this formation or out of this look, I like this stuff.' It's something that kind of throughout the season, I think you can kind of say, 'Hey, what about this play? I remember we ran it back in this week.' It's something that you can kind of build and build trust. I think the trust is there; it's just, for me, just continue growing and seeing, 'Hey, let's do this against this defense' and continue to find out what things I like. For right now, just trusting whatever he's got in, letting him know what I like and give an input here and there. 'Hey, I like this, I like that.'
Q: You talked about Diggs and Mack Hollins. Have you seen growth from Pop [DeMario] Douglas and [Kayshon] Boutte this offseason?
DM: Those guys – and I was just talking to some of them on the team last year – the first game I started, I threw a touchdown to each of them, and it was both of their first touchdowns with the game ball. So, just where we've come, I think starting with throwing to them in the second group last year. Pop was in the first group, second group some, and Boutte was for sure in the second group when I was in there last year. Just building chemistry and just continue to grow and grow. Coming into this year in this camp, they brought it every day, blocking, running routes, knowing spacing, knowing leverage, man coverage, spacing, depth and zone. They've done a great job of coming in every day, asking and talking to me. That's always what I ask for, feedback. 'Hey, what are you seeing, or 'Hey, what are you thinking on this, if the corner or the star does this,' just little things like that. I'm just trying to get as much as I can on the same page with them. I think it's going to show and show out in practice.
Q: Drake how would you describe the dynamics of the quarterback with Tommy [DeVito] just sort of joining in just a week ago?
DM: It was awesome. Obviously, he played well against us that preseason game, and it was good to have him in the room, good to have a guy who's played in games, played in the league and another young guy. I think it'll be cool. Boston and the North End will like him. I'm not sure if he's been yet; I need to ask him if he's been. But no, I think just continue to get good vibes going in the quarterback room and guys that have seen stuff. Josh [Dobbs] being able to be in a bunch of different offenses, play in the big time games on short week's notice, coming into teams and seeing everything. So, they've been great with me, supportive. I think they both throw it well, so it's good to compete with them throwing in practice and seeing who's spinning it better or whatever.
Q: You mentioned that word 'trust' with Josh. I'm wondering, with TreVeyon [Henderson], he obviously had an impressive summer, but it's only been so long that you guys have been working together. Where's your trust level with him as a receiver, but also as somebody who might be protecting you in the pass game?
DM: Yeah, I think protection wise, you saw it in college. Just continuing to the NFL, I think he wants to protect me. That's something that they've kind of established in the running back room of wanting to be good in pass pro, and it's something that jumps off the tape.
I think those, especially those O-linemen and the guys – quarterbacks and other guys in the room – really respect a running back when they go up there. If they give a linebacker a good pop or pass off a game, it's really impressive. In the passing game, just do my best job of continuing to work with him, giving him the ball in space and seeing what he's seen in zone coverage, option routes or things like that. So, I think he's a weapon. My best thing is to give him the ball in space and get the guys that are better at running than I am, that's for sure.
