FOXBORO - Drake Maye has found a comfort zone with his tight ends, and this season it’s become one of the clearest strengths in the Patriots’ offense.
Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon have given New England a steady one-two punch, piling up 47 targets, 38 catches, 464 yards and four touchdowns. Over the last two games alone, the pair has scored three times, which was enough to earn a strong endorsement from Maye as the Patriots prepared for Miami.
“I've been blessed really my whole career since I got here, with Hoop (Austin Hooper) and Hunter, to have good tight ends,” Maye said Wednesday. “Obviously we lost Hoop, but now Eli's really grown into a big role. I appreciate being with a young tight end, and not really showing him the ropes, but showing him how I see things and how I've learned to see things with Hunter and Hoop back in the day.
“But really, Hunter's one of the best things for Eli that you can have in the room. He's such a veteran presence,” Maye said.
“He's a pro. He does everything the right way, and we've got a great connection in that room.
We've got a strong room in the run game and pass game.”
Henry has been a fixture in New England since signing in free agency in 2021, and his production has pushed him into striking distance of another place in franchise history. With one more touchdown, he would move past Russ Francis (28) for third on the Patriots’ all-time touchdown list among tight ends.
Raridon, meanwhile, is still carving out his place. The Patriots used a third-round pick on him this spring, and he has settled in as the No. 2 option at the position. He’s brought value as both a blocker and a threat after the catch, opened the year with a touchdown against the Seahawks, and helped spark New England back into the game in Week 7 in Chicago.
Josh McDaniels sees the tandem as a major source of flexibility for the offense, and that role figures to matter even more as the season moves forward. Pro Football Focus has Raridon first among rookie tight ends in first-down receptions with nine, and he has not dropped a pass this season.
With Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins still on injured reserve, the Patriots’ tight ends may need to carry even more of the load during the stretch run. Maye made clear he sees that as a strength, not a limitation.
“So, they do a lot for us, and it makes it tough on defense,” Maye said. “You can match us in big people and you can try to match us in little people, and we'll try to run it.
“So, there's different things that you can create, and at the same time, they're great in the passing game.”
In Other News...
Drake Maye Just Got Another Reason To Silence NFL Doubters
Drake Maye has already given Patriots fans plenty to like, but the latest round of chatter around the league shows how much work still remains before he is viewed in the same tier as the NFLs most hyped young passers. Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer recently polled general managers, assistant GMs and coordinators on which quarterback they would rather build around for the future, and the answer leaned clearly toward Caleb Williams, a reminder of how strongly league insiders still value upside and flash.
Maye did draw support in the discussion, with some evaluators favoring his personality, sustainability and pocket presence, but the broader sentiment went the other way. Williams got the edge because of his ceiling, creativity and clutch play, which is the kind of profile that tends to carry weight in those rooms. For Maye, the challenge now is the same one facing any promising young quarterback in New England: keep stacking proof until the outside skepticism starts to look outdated. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Just Opened The Door To A Deadline Move
The Patriots quietly created some breathing room ahead of the trade deadline by restructuring Hunter Henrys contract, a move that signals they are at least keeping their options open. Henry has been both productive and a steadying presence since signing his two-year, $16 million extension before the season, so any adjustment to his deal says as much about the teams broader plans as it does about his standing in the locker room.
For a roster still sorting out where it stands, extra flexibility matters, especially when the deadline is close enough for front offices to start weighing short-term fixes against longer-term patience. New England now has a little more room to work with, and while that does not guarantee a move, it does put the Patriots in position to explore one if the right opportunity surfaces. [Read more 🡒]
TreVeyon Henderson's Struggles Could Force A Patriots Rethink
The Patriots run game has been searching for answers, and TreVeyon Hendersons uneven second season has become part of that conversation. After arriving with plenty of expectations, Henderson has had a harder time carving out a consistent offensive role, while New England continues to look for more juice in a ground attack that has not found much rhythm.
Jeremy Springer has at least floated one possible way to get more out of Henderson: expanding his work on special teams. Henderson has shown some promise as a kick returner in practice and preseason, and the Patriots have already trimmed his offensive snaps, a sign that his role may be shifting as the staff looks for the best way to use him. [Read more 🡒]