One of many greatest storylines hovering over the New England Patriots this spring includes 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 large receiver Kendrick Bourne provided considerably of a warning to the remainder of the NFL relating to what Maye is at present in comparison with what the 22-year-old was as a rookie final spring.
“The arrogance is there, perhaps much more confidence,” Bourne stated 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. After 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, he’s gonna turn out to be a vet. So I believe that’s what he’s embracing. He understands. He’s accustomed to 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 large receiver Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69M contract, and the membership later spent worthwhile draft picks on “high-character players” reminiscent of offensive deal with Will Campbell, working again TreVeyon Henderson and large receiver Kyle Williams.
Following the 2025 draft, Patriots government vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf famous that he expected Maye to develop as a pacesetter 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 persona is impacting the locker room throughout springtime exercises. “We need to beat one another in a race, or no matter it’s, conditioning and issues like that. Once you do issues and he simply competes, and also you like to see that from the quarterback.”
Maye went just 3-9 as a starter final season whereas taking part in beneath one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo. The franchise remains to be within the early phases of its second reset in two years, nevertheless it feels like Maye has already finished effectively to reply to Wolf’s problem because it pertains to behind-the-scenes work.
