Stefon Diggs didn’t hesitate when asked to pick his favorite throw from rookie quarterback Drake Maye this season. His answer? “The next one.”
That kind of response says a lot-about Diggs, about Maye, and about the chemistry that’s been brewing between the two in Foxborough. It’s not just a soundbite; it’s a reflection of the confidence this veteran receiver has in his young quarterback, who’s been playing like a seasoned MVP candidate in just his first year.
Maye has given Diggs plenty of highlights to choose from. Just last week, in a statement win over the Houston Texans, Maye dropped a 32-yard touchdown dime to Kayshon Boutte that had fans and analysts alike doing double takes. It was one of those throws that makes you pause the replay, rewind, and wonder how a rookie made it look that easy.
And then there was the seven-yard laser to Diggs himself-threaded through a tight window, with defenders closing in. That throw didn’t just put six on the board; it was a reminder of Maye’s poise under pressure and his growing trust in Diggs as his go-to guy in the red zone.
Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler, has been everything the Patriots hoped for when they brought him in. He’s not only producing at a high level-surpassing 1,000 receiving yards, something no Patriots receiver had done since Julian Edelman-but he’s also become a crucial part of Maye’s development. That connection has helped elevate New England’s offense to a level it hasn’t seen in years.
Now, with the AFC Championship Game looming and a date with the Denver Broncos on deck, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Denver’s defense is among the league’s best-fast, physical, and opportunistic.
If the Patriots are going to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, they’ll need Maye to keep making those high-level throws. And they’ll need Diggs to keep being the reliable, explosive weapon he’s been all season.
One thing’s clear: Diggs is already looking forward to what Maye does next. And if “the next one” is anything like what we’ve seen so far, the Patriots just might have something special on their hands.