FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has seemed like one may’ve anticipated him to by way of 4 coaching camp periods.
Maye, the third total decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, has struggled with some inconsistencies and inaccuracies. These had been on show throughout Day 4 at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. He’s performed conservatively, as was the case throughout Day 2. He threw a pick-six to Matthew Judon throughout Day 3 on Friday, which Maye referred to as a “rookie mistake.”
However Maye, who has cemented himself because the second-stringer behind anticipated starter Jacoby Brissett, additionally has confirmed glimpses of why he was the No. 3 choice. He’s made a transparent effort to enhance his footwork and mechanics, oftentimes making certain these are appropriate earlier than the rest. He’s flashed his high-level traits, together with his athleticism and deep-ball accuracy.
With that, we’ve highlighted 5 of his finest performs from his first week of coaching camp:
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Day 1: Deep go to Jalen Reagor in 7-on-7s
Certain, Reagor’s one-handed seize to beat cornerback Azizi Hearn might need been probably the most notable facet of the play. The Patriots wideout wanted to trace it down, haul it in with one hand and keep in bounds, in any case.
However Maye’s throw down the sideline – it will have been a 50-something yard landing on gameday — was easy. It was extremely easy. It was correct. And given the ball got here out as rapidly because it did, it spoke to Maye’s processing time. These are all qualities the Patriots had been betting on after they draft Maye with the third total decide. It was his first deep shot of Day 1 and was one of some deep throws coming into Sunday’s follow.
Day 1: Play-action rollout to JuJu Smith-Schuster in 11-on-11s
The highlight-reel reference to Reagor might need captured probably the most consideration on social media and sparked the loudest cheers at Gillette Stadium on Day 1. However a unique play stood out as Maye’s finest within the opening follow.
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Maye completely executed a play-action rollout to the suitable facet, which mirrored a bootleg drill Patriots quarterbacks undergo every follow. It wasn’t an extended throw, a chain-mover not a deep ball, but it surely however went for a sidearm strike to Smith-Schuster. It, once more, was easy. It confirmed Maye’s athleticism and comfortability of throwing on the run, throwing off-platform with out his ft set and skill to make performs out of the pocket. It was a snapshot of his bodily presents. And primarily based on New England’s carousel on the deal with place and questions alongside the offensive line, it’s these presents which make it honest to query whether or not Maye might (at instances) be higher for the Patriots offense than Brissett.
Day 3: Deep throw to Ja’Lynn Polk in 11-on-11s
Maye didn’t suppose it was an important throw. He thought he ought to have seemed Patriots security Jaylinn Hawkins off slightly extra, as Hawkins would have had the prospect to line up Polk if it was a full-contact recreation. However Maye’s reference to Polk nonetheless made for one of many offense’s finest performs by way of three periods. Maye pump-faked and threw a deep go because the second-round wideout raced down the sideline with Hearn in protection. The ball dropped into Polk’s arms, and Polk correctly went to the bottom to guard himself from an oncoming hit. On one other stagnant day for New England’s offense, it was a notable momentum-builder – as depicted by Hunter Henry’s enthusiastic response to Polk’s catch. It additionally was one of many longest offense performs up to now.
Day 4: Deep throw to Kayshon Boutte in 1-on-1s
A primary theme of those throws from Maye? They’re easy. And his deep shot to Boutte, who was lined by Patriots high cornerback Christian Gonzalez, was a lot of the identical. It got here throughout a 1-on-1 portion Sunday, the primary time New England held aggressive 1-on-1s in camp. Boutte gave Gonzalez a stutter-step round 10 yards and raced down the sideline. Maye put the ball excessive to the place solely his receiver might get it as Gonzalez performed Boutte’s low shoulder. Boutte seemed like he received each ft in bounds earlier than somersaulting to the bottom.
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You possibly can watch it right here.
Day 4: Drop by JuJu Smith-Schuster in 1-on-1s
Together with a throw that didn’t go for a completion may really feel bizarre, but it surely actually was one among Maye’s finest by way of 4 days. Smith-Schuster went up towards cornerback Alex Austin in 1-on-1s and Maye put the ball completely into Smith-Schuster’s arms. He couldn’t have hand-delivered it higher. Austin, nevertheless, received his personal hand in after it seemed just like the ball was secured and in the end ripped it out of Smith-Schuster’s grasp for the incompletion.
You possibly can watch it right here.
Maye and the fully-padded Patriots shall be again in motion at Gillette Stadium on Monday.
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