Drake Maye is heading into his third NFL season with plenty of momentum, and the Patriots quarterback is also carrying a new layer of respect for Jalen Hurts after hearing stories from one of his close friends.
Maye and the Eagles shared a joint practice this week, and the New England star spoke about the connection he feels to Hurts. “I’m a big fan of his game.
I’m rooting for him. I told him when I was committed to Alabama back in the day, he was one of the quarterbacks I was watching play there, and then he ended up going to Oklahoma.
He’s a Super Bowl champ, that speaks for itself. One of my best friends, Sam Howell, was in the room with him last year, so I got to know some stories about Jalen and how he works.
I respect him a lot for that,” Maye said, per reporter Mike Reiss.
That admiration comes as Maye prepares to build on a huge Year 2 in New England. He made major strides in 2025, helping the Patriots go 14-3 in the regular season while throwing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also added 450 rushing yards and four scores on 103 carries.
The Patriots’ run carried them to the second seed in the AFC, and they knocked off the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos along the way. Their season ended one step short, though, with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60.
Now the focus shifts to 2026, and New England opens with a heavyweight matchup on the road. The Patriots will face the Seahawks again in a Super Bowl rematch on Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET.
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At 36, Van Roten is being brought in for more than just insurance, even if that is the immediate need after injuries to Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich. The structure of the contract suggests New England sees a useful stopgap now, with some upside if he handles a bigger role than expected, and that is a pretty direct message about how the Patriots want the offensive line handled heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Maye Is Already Saying What Patriots Fans Need To Hear
Drake Maye spent part of the week around the Eagles, and the interaction gave the Patriots a useful glimpse into how their young quarterback is approaching the next stage of his development. After joint practices, Maye spoke with clear admiration for Jalen Hurts, pointing to Hurts work ethic and the path he has carved out in the league. He also noted how close the two came to overlapping at Alabama, a small detail that underscored just how long Maye has been tracking the kind of quarterback standard he wants to reach.
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Patriots Face A New Doubt About Mike Vrabel And Drake Maye
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Cowherd was skeptical that New England can simply roll last years success forward and suggested the team looks more like a wild-card outfit than a Super Bowl contender. Even so, he had high regard for the Vrabel-Drake Maye partnership, ranking it among the leagues better coach-quarterback pairings and putting it sixth overall, which is part of what makes the Patriots next step such an intriguing one. [Read more 🡒]