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Drake Maye talks Brady ‘pressure,’ Mike Vrabel’s culture, and more on WEEI
"Leaving your ego at the door and then from there bring it onto the field and finishing through the whistle."
Patriots QB Drake Maye made his first weekly appearance on “WEEI Afternoons” for the 2025 season on Monday.
The second-year signal-caller touching on a variety topics, including his play during New England’s preseason opener on Friday and the pressure that comes with playing in the post-Brady era in Foxborough.
Here are four takeaways from his interview:
Embracing Vrabel’s message
The Patriots might have opened preseason action with a convincing 48-18 win over the Commanders Friday night, but plenty of the discourse postgame revolved around Mike Vrabel’s stern message toward Maye after a costly turnover.
“That’s a bad decision and I think we’re going to need better from him and I think he knows that and I think that’s obvious,” Vrabel said postgame of Maye’s fumble on the first drive of the night for New England.
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Speaking on WEEI, Maye acknowledged that Vrabel is setting a high standard as the team tries to right the ship after back-to-back four-win seasons.
“Just intensity. Bringing it everyday. Leaving your ego at the door and then from there bring it onto the field and finishing through the whistle,” Maye told WEEI’s Andy Hart Monday. “Doing the little things right. And I think that’s just trying to help us on the field. When the little things — details and technique — come into play, that’s what he’s trying to establish.”
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Speaking on WEEI earlier on Monday, Vrabel again stressed that Maye will have to be held to a higher standard this season if the Patriots are going to make major strides in 2025 and beyond.
“The expectation is that he’s leading this football team,” Vrabel said of Maye on “The Greg Hill Show.” “That’s what the job of the head coach and the quarterback is. That’s pretty much how this thing goes. And that he can’t take days off.
“I mean, sometimes the performance isn’t going to be extraordinary, but the leadership and the demeanor has to be. And I think he’s learning that. I love the fact that he’s willing to learn and push and try to do those things to where he’s demanding of everybody and making sure that everybody’s on the same page.”
Maye concurred with Vrabel’s comments about his expectations as one of the leaders of a rebuilding New England roster.
“He hit it off the tee,” Maye said of Vrabel’s thoughts. “Just bring it every day. No days off. When the team of the offense feels like you’re kind of lagging around, it’s my job to bring them up.”
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Beyond his fumble, Maye logged two total drives for New England in Friday’s preseason game, completing 3-of-5 passes for 12 yards, while also rushing for 16 yards on two carries with a touchdown.
“Felt good to get out there, kind of get the communication with Coach in the headset, getting out of the huddle, really move the ball,” Maye said. “Instead of out here in practice, just kind of having us line up and running plays. … But no, I thought the fans showed out — what a night to celebrate Number 12 [Tom Brady]. And then we got the win.”
Playing in Brady’s shadow
Brady’s presence was felt on Friday in Foxborough, as the Patriots welcomed back the legendary QB for the unveiling of a 12-foot statue at Gillette Stadium in commemoration of his Hall-of-Fame career.
Even though Maye is not the direct successor to Brady in New England, there are lofty expectations placed on every signal-caller for the Patriots tasked with leading the franchise in the post-Brady era.
But, Maye doesn’t believe he’s put at a disadvantage when it comes to playing for a franchise that boasted one of the all-time greats in NFL history.
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“Yeah, I wouldn’t say pressure,” Maye said. “I think it’s just appreciation for what he did, what he did here, how he played the position, how he loved to win and wanted to win, and how they did win. I think that’s the biggest part.”
A younger O-line
Beyond Maye’s continued development, the Patriots are going to need a revamped offensive line to keep Maye off the turf and out of danger if the team is going to climb up the standings in 2025.
It’s going to require several youngsters thriving at football’s highest level, as the left side of New England’s O-line might feature two rookies in left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson.
So far, Maye likes what he sees from the two rookies — even if all parties involved might need to deal with some growing pains over the course of this season.
“Jared was committed to North Carolina back in the day out of high school. He’s from North Carolina. So I knew him back in high school. He flipped to Georgia, which I don’t blame him,” Maye said. “But I knew him already. And me and Will — we’re going through the same thing. Top-five pick, coming to Boston from the south. Different accents. I think that’s just going through it.
“The spot Will’s in is kind of the best thing for me and him to be able to relate and communicate and talk. And I think both those guys up front put the work in. … Proud of what those guys have done. I think they’re learning.”
A crowded wideout room
The early consensus in Foxborough is that players like Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, rookie Kyle Williams, and Kayshon Boutte have carved out roles on New England’s Week 1 roster.
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But, there are still several intriguing wideouts still trying to avoid roster cuts, with players like Javon Baker and undrafted rookie Efton Chism making significant strides over the last few days.
It remains to be seen how New England’s crowded receiver corps thins itself out. But, Maye believes it’s a good problem to have when it comes to the abundance of targets that he’s working with during camp.
“I think they’re battling,” Maye said. “You got seven, eight guys that bring it every day in that whole room. [Wide receivers] coach Todd [Downing] is doing a great job of challenging them and having to be in the right spots and having different plays, different concepts.
“They are learning them well and asking me questions … and asking [offensive coordinator Josh] McDaniels, who’s a legend with it. So I think just keep on communicating. That’s the biggest thing. And I think how it plays out, the guys who keep on being in the right spot, making plays and are blocking in the run game will be out there.”
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