FOXBORO — Patriots second-year starting quarterback Drake Maye believes his team found some “answers” this offseason.
It was an eventful offseason that saw the Patriots fire head coach Jerod Mayo, hire Mike Vrabel as his replacement, bring on an almost entirely new coaching staff and bolster their offense and defense with veteran additions and through the draft.
“I mean, I’m pumped,” Maye said Thursday while speaking to reporters for the first time during the offseason workout program. “I think a lot of new faces, a lot of guys, a lot of veterans who have played a high level. I think we kind of found answers in a lot of different spots that hopefully can plug and play. I think that’s what the point of free agency is: get good guys coming here and help us win, help us win now. And I think you add that in with some young talent that we’ve had in the past couple drafts, and I think hopefully we’re in the right direction.”
The Patriots emphasized improving their defense in free agency, adding notable names in defensive tackle Milton Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis, outside linebacker Harold Landry and linebacker Robert Spillane. They spent their first four draft picks on offensive players, selecting offensive tackle Will Campbell, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams and center Jared Wilson to a free agency class that included wide receiver Stefon Diggs and right tackle Morgan Moses.
Maye is especially excited to play with Diggs.
Shoot, Stefon, I mean, he was one of those guys growing up, when I was in high school, he was young in the league, and had him on my fantasy team and things like that. So, playing with him in Madden, so it’s pretty cool to … now this season be throwing to him. He’s coming back, obviously, from injury, so he’s doing great, been around, and think it’s just, it’s gonna be cool to throw up a receiver who can make plays like he has, made big plays in playoff games, who’s been in a lot of different schemes and played with high-level quarterbacks to see his point of view on different stuff. My job is to give him a chance to go get it.”
It’s not just new players that Maye is surrounded with. Vrabel brings a different vibe as a head coach. Maye acknowledged that his new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, coached “the best to ever do it” in Tom Brady.
“Yeah, it’s been awesome,” Maye said of Vrabel. “It’s been great with Coach. He’s coming in here, and seems like he’s been here a while. He’s just, he’s so comfortable being a head coach.”
Maye added on McDaniels: “He’s been offensive coordinator, a head coach. Does it at a high level. His stuff works. Kind of proof’s in the pudding.”
Maye posted on social media after seeing comments Campbell made after getting drafted, saying he would “fight and die” to protect his quarterback.
Maye said that made him want to “go out there and play football now.”
Maye was the 13th-highest pressured quarterback last season, per PFF, so it makes sense that adding a left tackle like Campbell makes him want to take some snaps.