After Tom Brady decided to leave the Patriots following the 2019 season, there was considerable hope among opposing fans that the franchise that had dominated the league for the past two decades would finally fall into obscurity for just as long, if not longer, much to their delight.
Fortunately for them, that is what happened in New England, as the 2020 through 2024 seasons were historically bad for the team, primarily due to the lack of a proper quarterback and significant roster mistakes made during the post-dynasty era. That opened the door for the Chiefs to reign supreme over the conference and the Bills to become the new owners of the AFC East.
All of those losses led to the Patriots having the opportunity to draft Drake Maye in 2024, and despite limited playing time as a rookie, the quarterback already appears well on his way to becoming the franchise player they desperately need. He played well despite unfavorable circumstances, most of which centered on the offensive line, and is expected to make a significant second-year leap this fall.
The belief in his talent, coupled with Mike Vrabel as the new head coach and Josh McDaniels returning as the offensive coordinator, has prompted many to believe the Patriots could be relevant as soon as this upcoming season, which could explain why many free agents signed with them this year.
However, that's not believable to some analysts discussing the Patriots' offseason, such as ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who disrespected Maye's talent while offering his take on Stefon Diggs.
There is no room for Stephen A. Smith's bogus take on Drake Maye this offseason
Because many are questioning Diggs' decision to sign with the Patriots, rather than with one of the other teams that were likely interested in signing him, Smith had to join the conversation and share his opinion on the topic.
While breaking down his opinion, Smith implies that Maye is a questionable quarterback and should not have been a draw for Diggs to sign with the Patriots, especially since Smith believes he has already played with far superior quarterbacks in his NFL career.
Stephen A. Smith wonders why Stefon Diggs came to the #Patriots:
“No matter what you are as a receiver, it don’t mean a damn thing of the QB can’t get you the football. I’m not sitting up there and trying to throw that kind of shade on Drake Maye like the brother can’t play.” pic.twitter.com/fKVUgkeguN
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) March 29, 2025
He tried to walk his comments back, claiming he wasn't taking a shot at Maye. But when you hear what he said, it's hard not to take it as a dig at the young quarterback.
The problem is that in his comparison of the quarterbacks Diggs has worked with, he overlooks just how new Maye is to the NFL, having played only ten full games as a rookie. When Diggs played with Stroud in 2024, he was already in his second season and was still demonstrating just how good a quarterback he could be, which is exactly what Maye will do as well.
Allen was in his third season when Diggs was traded to Buffalo, so that's not a fair comparison for Maye, either.
Although Maye didn't start an entire year, he still impressed with the little he was given. He wasn't put into favorable circumstances like many other rookies over the past several years, yet still proved he will be a threat to the league for many years to come, which is why Mike Vrabel wanted to be the next head coach for the Patriots and is part of the reason Diggs wanted to sign with New England.
Smith's attempt to downplay what Maye will bring to the Patriots is a big miss and should be used as bulletin board material for the quarterback moving forward. The Patriots love having a quarterback with a chip on their shoulder, and this could be the start of that for Maye.
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