FOXBORO - Drake Maye spent Thursday talking about the same thing A.J. Brown has been showing all week: the relationship between quarterback and receiver is moving fast.
After Brown spoke to reporters on Wednesday, it was Maye’s turn to break down what the Patriots have been getting out of their new wideout during joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles. Through two days, the two connected nine times against Brown’s former team, with a handful of those catches turning into eye-catching end zone plays.
Maye made it clear that the connection is still developing, but the early signs are exactly what New England wants to see.
"Yeah, I think just growing that relationship. It’s huge for a quarterback and receiver like himself, just to keep growing and keep - not just feeling like you are leveling them off and trying to keep getting better.
So, he does a great job of talking to me, seeing what he sees, seeing what he is seeing in the DB, and just seeing what I see from my point of view. So, he is eager to learn and eager to share his opinion, and I think that is really important for a guy like him, and he will continue to make plays, and we got to find more ways to get him the football."
That back-and-forth has already shown up on the practice field. On Wednesday, Maye targeted Brown seven times and Brown caught every one of them.
Thursday was tougher: five targets, two catches. Even so, Maye’s overall accuracy across the two days stood out, as he finished 31-for-45 and kept looking Brown’s way.
For Maye, the mission is simple - feed the guy who keeps making things easier on everyone else.
"Yeah, I think anytime a receiver like that, who carries that much weight, and just finding ways to get him the football, and like I said, all the time, I try to get the ball into their hands because they make me look good, and that is the number one thing with A.J. He has made a lot of plays in his career, taking it the distance on crossing routes and making great catches on deep balls, and he is another leader in the huddle, too.
I think that is one of the biggest things with A.J. He’s got this demeanor and respect from the team that he just walked in with because of the player he has been, and I think he has taken that head on, and I really respect the way he goes about his work."
Brown’s presence has also changed how the Patriots attack downfield. Since he arrived in New England, the offense has been more willing to push the ball deep, and Brown has become the natural target in that area of the field. Against the Eagles, Maye took several shots trying to connect with him, including one on Wednesday that turned into a standout sideline grab.
Not every rep was clean, though. Maye said one red-zone throw was simply too late.
"No, I was just late to the football, late in the red zone. You can’t be late in the red zone down there.
It’s tight, and it’s a concept that we probably need to get some more work on and just find some timing. So, you just can’t be late down there."
That play came on a quick out at the goal line and was undercut by Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen. In a game, it likely would have gone nearly 100 yards the other way for a touchdown. It was also one of two interceptions Maye threw on the day, both coming on throws intended for Brown.
Even with the mistakes, Maye said the details matter most, especially as Brown gets more comfortable in the offense and in different alignments.
"I think you got to with the details. The details of this offense and what I like to see when I’m coming back side to him or he is front side in the concept. So, just different versions and moving him around, and he has done a great job of learning what to do, where to line up, and there are still ways to go, but I’m looking forward to seeing him in this offense."
The bigger picture is hard to miss. Brown brings veteran experience, Maye brings youth and arm talent, and the Patriots have spent the week finding out how dangerous that combination can be when it starts clicking.
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