What Mayo, Wolf said about Drake Maye’s ceiling with Patriots

“One thing about Drake, and we kind of talked about it this past year, [UNC] also had some holes on offense, and the thing that most impressed me about him, he would get smashed and just get right back up,” Mayo said. “That’s the same trait — you had a guy like Tom Brady — not saying that he’s Tom, but just that mentality. 

“Same thing with Joe Burrow. Those guys just keep getting back up and continuing to play at a high level, and that was like the a-ha moment for me.”

An easy consensus 

New England’s decision to select Maye ends months of speculation as to who the Patriots were going to take with their No. 3 pick. New England was linked to several other QBs in this draft class — including LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. 

Mayo stressed on Thursday that the Patriots were comfortable with taking any of the top-three quarterbacks in this class: Maye, Daniels (who went to Washington at No. 2), or Caleb Williams, who was taken first overall by the Chicago Bears. 

“Honestly, the more exposure we had with Drake, the more comfortable we felt,” Mayo said. “Honestly, not to talk about other players, but those top three guys, we were comfortable with all three of those guys, and it just happened to be Drake, and he’s definitely — he has a lot of potential. We have a lot of coaches, and we have to develop him.”

When asked if the Patriots were going to be comfortable taking Daniels had Washington opted to draft Maye with the No. 2 pick, Wolf acknowledged that such a scenario was never considered a viable option. 

“That wasn’t really something that came up,” Wolf said. “We knew a long time ago that Washington was going with Daniels so we were able to make our pick, and we’re really happy about that.”

Just how long did they know that Daniels was going to be off the board by the time New England was on the clock?

“Weeks,” Wolf admitted.

So much for all of those McCarthy rumors, it seems. 

“I think with so many quarterbacks being so high in the draft, there was a lot of, for lack of a better word, BS out there about this guy or that guy and a lot of rumors and innuendos and things that just didn’t end up being true,” Wolf added.

A QB1 in 2024?

Even with Maye’s high ceiling, the case can be made that the 21-year-old QB might benefit from some time as a “redshirt” player at the start on the 2024 season. 

“If New England wants to take Drake Maye at [third overall], they better have a free agent [quarterback] already signed,” ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky told Rich Eisen in an interview in early March before New England signed Brissett. “Drake Maye has to be on the Jordan Love-type of timeline. Drake Maye has to sit.”

While Mayo and the Patriots are keeping an open mindset regarding Maye and his odds of wining a starting role during training camp, New England’s head coach added that the team isn’t going to rush him in his first foray against NFL competition. 

The Patriots do have some insurance at the QB position, with veteran Jacoby Brissett able to step in as a bridge starter and a veteran resource for Maye if the team opts to let him marinate as a backup to start the new season.

“I don’t think many rookies are ready to just jump in and play.” Mayo said. “At the end of the day, our philosophy is the best players will play. Coming in as a rookie, hopefully he’s a sponge. A lot of good players in that locker room. 

“Look, Jacoby understands, he’s a mentor. He’s very smart, has great leadership skills, and hopefully Drake can learn something from him, as well. I would say we’re going to compete all spring, we’re going to compete during training camp, and the best player will start.” 

Maye’s high ceiling offers hope that the Patriots do have a franchise fixture at the QB position. But with New England’s roster still lacking in terms of proven playmakers and sturdy O-line play, the Patriots also don’t seem willing to throw Maye into the fire during the 2024 season. 

“We’re not sitting here saying that Drake is our starting quarterback,” Mayo said. “I think he understands that. He understands the things that he has to get better at. With coaching and once again the hard work and the coaches that we have, the support system from ownership, I think he has a chance to go out there and really — to really play at a high level.

“You can talk about potential all you want to. Until you reach it, it really doesn’t matter. We did know the man; we know the man is a hard worker, and he’s going to do everything he can to be successful.”

Reinforcements needed

Maye might offer a higher upside than what the Patriots featured last year at the QB position between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. 

But even after drafting Maye, bringing back key cogs like Mike Onwenu, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry — and signing free agents like K.J. Osborn, Antonio Gibson, and Austin Hooper — Wolf admitted that the Patriots still have work to do when it comes to putting their new QB in a position to succeed. 

“I just think we need to support him in any way we can, on the field, off the field,” Wolf said. “We need to add some weapons to the offense. We need to shore up the offensive line. We have good players already at those positions but really just increasing the depth and the competition. Like Jerod mentioned, that competition is going to be at every position.

“We still have holes that we need to fill,” Mayo added. “We still have a lot of draft capital. What I will say is the most important thing is the guys coming out here working each and every day. I know a lot of people are writing us off, but we’ll see when it comes to the fall.”