Drake Maye and the Patriots will open the 2025 season on Sunday against the Raiders.
Drake Maye and the Patriots will open the 2025 season on Sunday against the Raiders.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Patriots QB Drake Maye made his weekly appearance on “WEEI Afternoons” on Tuesday, with the second-year pro touching on topics that ranged from Bill Belichick’s tough debut with UNC to Jabrill Peppers’ release.
Here are three takeaways from his interview:
Moving on from Peppers
The Patriots had to cut more than 20 players from their training-camp roster last week in order to bring their depth chart down to 53 players.
But as Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf, and the rest of the Patriots’ top decision-makers continue to overhaul New England’s roster, there were a few more surprises in store over the last few days — headlined by the release of veteran safety Jabrill Peppers over the weekend.
Peppers, who made the initial 53-man roster last week, was originally slated to be one of New England’s starting safeties entering Week 1 against the Raiders. But, the Patriots opted to release the safety, who totaled three interceptions and totaled 178 tackles over 38 games in Foxborough.
Despite Peppers’ standing as a former captain, Maye acknowledged that surprise cuts are part of the business in the NFL.
“It’s unfortunate,” Maye said of Peppers’ release. “Somebody you get to know well, a veteran in this league that I respected. But at the end of the day what we’re trying to establish around here is putting trust in the coaching staff, putting trust and respect in what they do.”
Vrabel didn’t offer up much clarity Monday when asked if Peppers’ release in Foxborough had to do with his fit within the team’s revamped defensive scheme under their new head coach.
“No, I don’t think — that was certainly not the issue,” Vrabel said. “There’s a lot of reasons. I wouldn’t say — we’re going to try to do what’s best for the team. We’ve got a lot of different schemes that we can run at all three phases … there’s a lot that goes into it. Again, we’re just trying to build toward Sunday here, and that’s our focus. It’s a decision that we had to make. Again, wish the best for Jabrill.”
Peppers himself defended his ability to fit in any defensive scheme on social media Monday morning.
“Going on 9 years in this league. I’ve had 7 HCs & 6 DCs lol,” Peppers wrote on X. “There is no scheme you can place me in where I won’t find a way to be effective.”
Going on 9 years in this league. I’ve had 7 HCs & 6 DCs lol There is no scheme you can place me in where I won’t find a way to be effective.
— JP5 (@JabrillPeppers) September 1, 2025
Despite Peppers’ sudden exit, Maye acknowledged that the rest of the Patriots’ locker room can’t be discouraged by roster turnover this time of year.
“There’s two sides to it. You care about the person and the relationship you had with Pep,” Maye noted. “But also, you care about the team and know they’re trying to do what’s best for this football team this year.”
Growing as a leader
Maye was voted on by his teammates as one of New England’s six captains on Monday, joining a leadership group that also includes TE Hunter Henry, CB Marcus Jones, LB Harold Landry III, ST Brenden Schooler, and LB Robert Spillane.
“What a great honor. I think it comes with a lot of responsibility,” Maye said of being named a captain. “It’s always a great feeling. It shows what I’ve done, but there’s more work to do in the future.
While Vrabel and New England’s overhauled coaching staff is expected to play a sizable role in the Patriots’ culture shift this season, Maye believes some of the responsibility falls on him and the rest of the captains to translate the coaches’ messages from both practice and the meeting rooms onto the field once the regular season begins.
“I think just bring a presence to the huddle,” Maye said of how he can help Vrabel and Co. carry out their vision in New England. “I think having command of the offense, bringing a presence to the huddle — kind of giving extra tidbits in the huddle of certain plays or key details. Just kind of being sharp with my game. And then at the end of the day, when I’m out there playing, being able to step up in the pocket, take some hits, and be able to kind of hang in there in the pocket, and make some throws while getting hit.
“I think that stuff is kind of what people may not see during the game, but you know what, they can see on tape. And I think that’s what great quarterbacks around the league that I watch — hang in there and take hits and get up and just continue to get out there and compete. That’s the biggest thing. Compete.”
Checking in on “Chapel Bill”
With the Patriots having some time off before the start of regular-season play, Maye had ample time to take in a full slate of college-football action during the holiday weekend.
Unfortunately for the former UNC product, that included watching Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels get trounced by TCU, 48-14, in a nationally-televised game.
“Obviously had some days off, so I was able to tune into college football,” Maye said. “Took a look at that one last night. Good start in the first drive. And wasn’t the way I’m sure we wanted to end it. But no, it’s good to see that kind of football back. And obviously, it wasn’t the ending we wanted. But pretty cool to see Coach Belichick on the sideline [with] those guys.”
Despite that setback, Maye — who met Belichick during his offseason visits to his alma mater — believes that the Tar Heels are still in good hands moving forward.
“First off, was honored to meet him. What a legendary coach,” Maye said of Belichick. “And I think he’s gonna — they’ve got a bunch of new players in the program, and they’re figuring it out in college football. But, I have no doubt … what he’s done in the past, and his proof of being a winning coach is going to unfold.
“I’d love to pick his brain, football-wise,” Maye added. “It wasn’t much of as much chance to do that when I went back and visited, but I was out there at practice once and and talked to the quarterbacks, so it was good to meet him and be out there and still support my my school, and looking forward to following this upcoming season and continue to see them improve.”
Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com.