FOXBOROUGH – Inherently, people lack patience. We want instant, gratifying results.
The problem is that sports don’t necessarily work like that. A young player’s career is rarely summed up by a few moments, but rather by an aggregate of what he becomes over his time in the NFL.
You want to know if Drake Maye is the next Josh Allen or the next Daniel Jones. You want to know if he’s going to acclimate to Josh McDaniels’ system properly. You want to know if Maye will develop into a top 10 quarterback.
Is he the one to lead the Patriots back to the promised land?
Here’s a suggestion: Patience.
That’s not easy or necessary in our nature.
when it comes to Maye’s development, it’s going to take more than a rookie season with an underwhelming cast and a few games with a new offensive coordinator to make any judgments.
It’s never wise to overreact to a Week 1 result. Let’s not forget about last season, which ended with players giving Jerod Mayo a Gatorade bath.
Maye’s development is the most important storyline for the Patriots this season. That’s why everyone cares so much about how he looks. It’s why we worry when you see him miss a pass to DeMario Douglas on third down in the first series of the 2025 season. It’s why you cover your face after another shaky interception.
Let’s not forget that Maye was the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL last season. Or the fact that McDaniels is his fourth offensive coordinator in four years.
It’s easy to watch J.J. McCarthy lead the Minnesota Vikings to a fourth-quarter comeback and wonder out loud if the Patriots would’ve been better to trade down in 2024. Those lamenting for McCarthy over Maye also rarely mention that McCarthy went to a team that ended up winning 14 games last season. His top target, Justin Jefferson, is one of the best in the NFL. His right tackle, Brian O’Neill, is a 2-time Pro Bowler.
Maye shows flashes, glimpses of his potential. We saw it on Sunday when he hit DeMario Douglas for a touchdown, fitting his pass into a tight window. We saw it when he connected with Kayshon Boutte for multiple deep passes.
For now, at age 23, flashes of potential are ‘fine.’ As the season progresses, Maye will have to show more. He has to cut down on poor decisions and have better ball security. He also needs to not get happy feet, run into danger, and help his offensive line.
At some point, Maye needs to live up to that potential. It needs to be realized.
That won’t happen overnight.
Maye’s drawn comparisons to Allen. People seem to forget that the Buffalo Bills quarterback didn’t have a single 300-yard game until his third year in the NFL. He was drafted by a team that won nine games and worked immediately with a quality offensive coordinator (Brian Daboll). Allen’s completion percentage fell under 60% in his first two seasons.
Last year, Maye entered an imperfect situation with an underwhelming roster and coaching staff. He played behind an offensive line that allowed the most sacks in New England since 1999. He threw to a cast of receivers who struggled to beat man coverage so much that opposing defenses double-teamed tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper.
For Maye to realize his potential, he needs time and help. It’s why the Patriots started four new offensive linemen on Sunday. It’s why they drafted Will Campbell fourth overall. It’s why they signed Stefon Diggs.
The young quarterback needs time in McDaniels’ system. The offensive coordinator also needs to determine whether he needs to better tailor his scheme for Maye’s skill set. Perhaps the quarterback doesn’t thrive in an offense where he sits back in the pocket and needs to rely on accuracy to make the right decision based on the defensive scheme in front of him. Maybe Maye needs to use his athleticism and big arm more.
The truth is, the questions about Maye won’t be answered this September. It’s going to take time – whether we like it or not.
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