Drake Maye doesn’t need much convincing about what the Patriots have around him this season. He’s already seen enough to know the room looks different, deeper and a lot more dangerous.
“It’s hard not to be excited,” Maye told reporters at Gillette Stadium on Saturday. “You love guys in that room, in our skill position room, that we have that make my job easier and that make me look good.
“And that’s with our skill group last year. I was looking forward to seeing what this skill group does because I think another year for the guys that were here in this system to grow and be even better, and the new guys that come in that have been players in this league - look forward to getting the ball as fast as I can, as much as I can.
Those guys can make plays. I got the best seat in the house when I throw it to them or watch them run.”
That’s a pretty strong endorsement from the quarterback, especially considering where he was a year ago. The last time Maye took the field in an NFL game, his top three wideouts were Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs. Hollins is still here after that February loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl, but Boutte and Diggs are gone.
In their place, the Patriots brought in A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, both expected to step into starting roles this fall. Based on production and pedigree, that’s a clear upgrade on paper, even if Boutte and Diggs did solid work with Maye.
The rest of the receiver room adds even more layers. Hollins is back, DeMario Douglas is projected to start in the slot, and the Patriots also have sophomores Kyle Williams and Efton Chism in the mix. On top of that, the team used a third-round pick on tight end Eli Raridon to pair with Hunter Henry, while Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson return in the backfield.
All of it gives Maye a supporting cast that could stack up with some of the most talented groups the Patriots have put around a quarterback in recent memory. It’s certainly a far cry from what he had during his first two seasons in the league.
Maye said he’s already felt the difference in camp.
“It’s a huge confidence booster for me of seeing them time and time again go up and make plays,” he said. “And fortunately enough, growing up, my dad played quarterback, and he always said, ‘It’s hard to force it to one guy.’
Knowing that those guys will make plays when you feel like the game’s moving and you feel like the offense is in a groove, that just comes naturally. That’s what you have seen with guys that have big games, and you can see from last year of different guys having big games.
That’s one of the best things about my position is just seeing everybody do their part and do their job well and how rewarding that is.”
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