New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots aren’t going to hold anything back from Drake Maye in 2025.
It’s time for the organization to see whether the kid is going to sink or swim.
Maye had a tremendous rookie season, despite having something of a leash on him at all times throughout 2024. Alex Van Pelt admitted as much, with the former offensive coordinator choosing not to incorporate certain concepts as a way to keep his rookie healthy and focus on the development of more fundamental aspects to his game.
New England should be thrilled that he approached it that way, but now that the roster has been sured up around him, want to start testing the waters of the franchise quarterback’s capabilities.
“(Josh McDaniels is) still very smart. I think he’s incorporated a couple of things that Drake (Maye) likes,” Patriots tight end Austin Hooper said Tuesday. “Not to get too deep into scheme or anything like that, but willingness to hear what the young gun has.
” … When you’re a top pick coming into this league, you’re drinking out of a fire hose, so, being able to see him not as eyes wide, learning the business, learning new teammates, learning the pro style system, to banking all of those reps. You can tell, just walking around, his shoulders are a little lower. Just more relaxed.”
McDaniels, who was rehired for a third stint in the organization this offseason, has quite the history of building offenses that highlight his quarterback’s strengths. Tom Brady was the system, but things eventually shifted significantly to make things easier for the likes of Matt Cassel, Cam Newton and Mac Jones — with things eventually falling off significantly for all three once they left.
How do they intend to change things for Maye?
McDaniels might want to start by incorporating many of the same designs and concepts that worked for Newton, a similarly athletic (though the latter was a one-of-one freak athlete) quarterback who thrived when allowed to make plays outside the pocket and off schedule. New England was the best red-zone offense in football in 2020, as the signal-caller made their running game nearly impossible to stop when he was on the field.
The Patriots seem to have the horses around the new kid to do something similar, especially if they hold onto one or two of the undrafted tight end/fullback additions they’ve reportedly made.
It’s something that people were clamoring for last season, but never quite got.
The Patriots eventually have to let their franchise quarterback out of the cage at some point, and incorporating similar concepts will do just that. What’s the point of having a stud playmaker if you aren’t going to allow him to make plays?
