Ashton Grant, hired by Mike Vrabel to be the team’s quarterback coach, was introduced to fans at the Patriots draft party on Sunday.
Grant, who hails from New England, had spent last season with Vrabel in Cleveland where the two served as assistants.
Now, Grant is helping offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels coach Drake Maye, the Patriots franchise quarterback.
Grant told the crowd that former Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt and ex-QB coach TC McCartney, who he had worked with in Cleveland, had raved about Maye from afar.
“They were always blowing my phone up, talking to me about how awesome Drake Maye was as a rookie,” Grant said. “So just working in Cleveland, and seeing him from afar, I was super excited.”
When Vrabel reached out to Grant and asked him to come aboard in January, there was no hesitation.
“When this opportunity presented itself, it’s something I jumped on as quickly as possible,” Grant said. “I mean, this kid is going to be special. He has all the talent in the world.”
Grant said that while the coaches aren’t able to get into the nitty gritty of football just yet with the players, he’s been impressed just from conversations he’s had with the second-year quarterback, getting to know him as a person.
“This guy is a next-level thinker,” Grant told the audience. “He’s well-rounded. I think there’s no better quarterback you’d want in your franchise.”
A native of Manchester, Conn., Grant went to Assumption University where he was a record-setting receiver. He finished his collegiate career with school records for the most career receiving yards (3,204), most career touchdown receptions (26), and the most touchdown receptions in a single season (13).
During his time in Cleveland, Grant worked all across the offense before landing in the quarterback room.
“Kevin Stefanski was very intentional about my development,” Grant said with respect to the Browns head coach. “He moved me around every single position on offense besides offensive line, so I could learn it from every single perspective.
“So, having that background, to be able to translate information to Drake and help him out will be huge.”
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