As noted by Peyton Doyle of MassLive, second-year New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye recently invited multiple teammates to workouts held in Maye’s hometown near Charlotte as he and other players prepare to report for training camp on Tuesday, July 22.
During a chat with Mike Reiss of ESPN, Maye addressed the importance of those sessions ahead of the upcoming season.
“I think the bonding is more important than, really, the football,” Maye said. “Just have some dinner, and time in the pool and lake. It was a good time.”
The third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Maye was supposed to spend at least the bulk of his rookie season learning a backup while veteran Jacoby Brissett played. Then-New England head coach Jerod Mayo turned to Maye after just five games, however, and Maye made 12 starts during an up-and-down campaign for the 22-year-old.
According to Pro Football Reference, Maye finished his rookie regular season ranked 18th in the NFL among qualified players with a 58.6 adjusted QBR, 23rd with an 88.1 passer rating and 13th with a 66.6 percent completion percentage. He tossed 15 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions, and he also tallied 421 rushing yards and two scores on 54 carries for a Patriots team that went 4-13.
Maye’s first offseason as New England’s full-time QB1 has been interesting for multiple reasons. The Patriots dismissed Mayo after a single campaign in charge and replaced him with one-time NFL Coach of the Year and Patriots Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel. Vrabel subsequently brought longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels back to the organization to work with Maye.
Additionally, individuals within the Patriots such as Vrabel and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf made it known during the spring that they’d like to see Maye grow as a leader before September arrives. Earlier this summer, former Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson raised some eyebrows when he said he has reasons to wonder if Maye “has the mental aptitude or the mental skill set to match what his natural talents are” as it pertains to becoming the leader of an NFL offense.
“Just seeing the guys,” Maye responded when asked what he’s looking forward to regarding the start of summer training camp practices. “It’s been about a month. Ready to get back to work and games. We’re two months out now [from the regular season]. It’s coming closer. So getting back to the guys and building the bond and culture.”
Vrabel seemingly wants Maye to be a big part of the club’s culture shift in 2025. How Maye responds to that challenge this fall should help Vrabel and Co. decide whether or not they believe the team’s long-term quarterback is already on the roster.
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