Each New England Patriots government vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf and first-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spoke through the spring about how they’d like quarterback Drake Maye to enhance as a group chief throughout his first NFL offseason as a full-time starter.
Former Patriots linebacker and three-time Tremendous Bowl champion Ted Johnson serves as a number on Boston sports activities radio station WEEI. Throughout a latest chat with Karen Guregian of MassLive, Johnson shared considerations he has about Maye forward of the 22-year-old’s second professional marketing campaign.
“Whether or not it comes from management, whether or not it comes from a clutch gene, whether or not it comes from simply being the person, the face of the franchise, I used to be form of hoping I’d hear some tales this offseason that he was bringing guys collectively, that he was throwing with guys,” Johnson mentioned about Maye. “That sounds form of corny, and perhaps pressured, however the quarterback needs to be the CEO. He has to take possession of the soccer group. And I don’t know if he’s totally accepted that a part of the job. It makes me hesitate to assume that he is likely to be the man, finally due to these issues.”
The earlier Patriots regime wished to start out veteran Jacoby Brissett final season after the membership grabbed Maye with the third general decide of the 2024 draft. Nonetheless, Maye replaced Brissett within the lineup after simply 5 video games, and the then-rookie tallied 17 whole touchdowns (15 passing scores, two dashing TDs) over 13 contests. In accordance with StatMuse, solely three quarterbacks dedicated extra turnovers than Maye (16) through the 2024 marketing campaign.
“I believe he’s a particular participant,” Johnson mentioned about Maye after referencing the ten interceptions the signal-caller tossed as a rookie. “I believe he has particular traits. However I do surprise if he has the psychological aptitude or the psychological ability set to match what his pure abilities are.”
By all accounts, Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are optimistic relating to the place Maye shall be in his general improvement later this yr. In the course of the offseason, the Patriots added vast receiver Stefon Diggs, offensive tackle Morgan Moses, middle Garrett Bradbury, rookie offensive sort out Will Campbell, rookie operating again TreVeyon Henderson and first-year receiver Kyle Williams to their roster. Such strikes counsel Vrabel and Co. anticipate Maye shall be able to win massive video games through the upcoming season.
“You want him to be the alpha,” Johnson added about Maye. “He doesn’t have an alpha presence. That’s what you should have on this league to outlive.”
It could possibly be attention-grabbing to see how Maye responds to such takes when veteran New England players report back to coaching camp on July 22.
