FOXBORO — At the end of his first full practice as a Patriot, Drake Maye proved to be a walking cliche.

He was, indeed, the last player to leave the field.

Maye strolled off with fellow rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, after they’d stayed late to throw together; a quarterback and his receivers teaching themselves to walk before they can run in the NFL. Their session followed a voluntary, two-hour practice in which all participating Patriots, rookies and veterans alike, took baby steps.

No pads. Basic play-calls and fundamental drills. No third-down or red-zone work. Just two competitive team periods.

This was not a day for evaluation. But it was a day for debuts.

Debuts for Maye, who followed veteran quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe in every drill; for Alex Van Pelt’s new offense, finally unveiled under the Foxboro sun; for Jerod Mayo’s program, finally hitting the field in a small, but meaningful, test of his organization, plan and process.

Overall, Maye fit in, going 6-of-7 in full-speed, competitive team drills. He fired all of his completions within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage: two on out patterns, another couple on stop routes over the middle, one via checkdown and a curl route to his right.  Maye’s only misfire was a screen pass he hurried to start his only period of 11-on-11 play.

What else?

Well, a star defender returned, another may have tipped off a major schematic change, the offensive line was a moving puzzle and one weapon won Player of the Day.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:

Absent: OLB Matt Judon, DL Davon Godchaux, OLB Josh Uche, OLB Anfernee Jennings, OT Zuri Henry

Non-participants: WR Kendrick Bourne, LB Jahlani Tavai, OL Cole Strange

Notes: Mayo told reporters before practice that Judon has been “in and out” of the building lately …. Bourne continues to rehab from the torn ACL he suffered last October. Bourne, Tavai and Strange (knee) all attended practice and stood on the sidelines … It’s unknown why any of the other players missed, though Uche and Godchaux did participate in some of the team’s prior offseason workouts, which were also voluntary.

If Kyle Dugger was any tighter to newly-signed tight end Austin Hooper on this pass breakup, he would’ve been in Hooper’s jersey,

The veteran safety ran step for step with Hooper up the right seam and casually reached his left arm up to knock away a Jacoby Brissett’s pass during the only live 7-on-7 period. Dugger’s pass breakup was the lone deflection of the day, but highlighted a strong showing for the defense against Brissett and Co. Dugger will need to make more plays like that this season to live up to his new 4-year, $58 million contract.

Granted, in a non-padded practice, everyone looks trimmer.

But the Patriots’ top back both looked and ran lighter than he did a year ago. Could a Pro Bowl-caliber season be on the way?

If so, Stevenson should factor heavily into the Pats’ passing game, as he did Monday. He finished with three catches in team drills, a team high. Stevenson also led off those periods among the running backs and appears to be a natural fit for the Patriots’ new zone-blocked rushing attack.

Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods only. 

Jacoby Brissett: 9-of-14

Drake Maye: 6-of-7

Bailey Zappe: 3-of-5

Joe Milton: 4-of-4

Jerod Mayo has seen encouraging early signs from Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye

Patriots extra points: Jerod Mayo explains player absences from OTAs