Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman explain what has impressed them the most about Drake Maye

"This kid’s been fighting his butt off. He’s got a good attitude. I think it’s granted.”

Drake Maye has given New England a jolt since taking over as QB1. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

November 17, 2024

2 minutes to read

Drake Maye has already showcased plenty of promise with his play on the field this season.

But it was the rookie quarterback’s emerging role as a leader for a rebuilding New England roster that has caught the eye of former Patriots Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.

“I love Drake Maye,” Rob Gronkowski said during Fox’s pregame coverage on Sunday. “I love everything about him. … Just that aura around him. He’s a complete leader. He’s a complete quarterback out on the football field. He has that aura around him where the players like him, they like what he’s doing, they like how he prepares.

“To have that skill (to speak up) at 22 years old. You know you’re going to be the real deal and you know you’re in the right mindset to be the quarterback of the New England Patriots if you’re already doing that.”

"I love Drake Maye." 🙌@RobGronkowski and @Edelman11 are all in on Drake Maye as the starting QB for the Patriots! pic.twitter.com/xMpLSXMmMJ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 17, 2024

Beyond leading New England to a road win over the Bears in Week 10, Maye helped right the ship for the Patriots in the lead-up to the game in Chicago. After a lackluster practice on Nov. 6 at Gillette Stadium, Maye addressed the team and preached urgency after a tough overtime loss to the Titans just a few days earlier.

“This week was a big step for Drake. He was frustrated with how practice went, didn’t think they were as locked in as they needed to be. So, he asked [offensive coordinator] Alex Van Pelt if he could address the offense for the first time, Fox Sports’ Laura Okmin noted during last week’s broadcast between the Patriots and Bears. “Alex said, ‘The floor is yours.’

“First time [Maye] got in front of the offense,” Okmin continued. “Alex said, ‘Great response, everyone really reacted well to him. We need that leadership from him.’”

Speaking after the win over the Bears, Maye confirmed that he wanted to take a more vocal role with the team — even with just five total starts under his belt.

“Just really trying to challenge those guys and challenge myself to take each play and know that when the game comes and this play’s called, it matters,” Maye noted. “There are so many times throughout the game you see how much that play can impact the turnout of the game. So, I was just trying to get through to them. Probably fumbled some words trying to do it, but I think those guys respected it.”

Maye’s arm strength and athleticism have given New England’s laboring offense a jolt so far in 2024. But Maye’s voice will also need to be relied on moving forward as the Patriots try to re-establish themselves as a contender in the years ahead.

“He earned the ability to call a team meeting with his play the last few weeks,” Edelman said of Maye. “He came in and he’s been productive. He’s improved each and every week. There’s a big difference between a quarterback that comes in and calls a players-only meeting when he’s been playing like dog crap. This kid’s been fighting his butt off. He’s got a good attitude. I think it’s granted.”