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When did Mike Vrabel, Stefon Diggs realize Drake Maye was going to be special?
"He's like a mini-inspiration."
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Drake Maye had a “second-year leap” for the ages in 2025.
Fresh off a rookie season where he showcased some of his playmaking prowess — along with a few expected warts — Maye was expected to take a step forward in Mike Vrabel’s first year at the helm in New England.
Instead, Maye established himself as a legitimate MVP candidate, commanding one of the most efficient and explosive offenses in the NFL and putting the Patriots one win away from a Super Bowl title.
Vrabel was candid on Wednesday when asked when he realized that Maye was going to be a special talent in the NFL ranks.
“I think I probably realized that before I got here,” Vrabel acknowledged. “That’s a large part of the reason that I wanted to be here. There were plays in training camp and things that he did, whether his — I think the thing was the accuracy outside of the pocket or on the move, I touched on it, the way he plays the position, he has an athletic nature to the way that he plays the position. So, I think that’s somewhat unique.
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“I think that everybody has a different skill set, and he’s comfortable in the pocket. I think his ability to transfer up into the pocket to make moves, to make throws off platform and different angles, has been impressive.”
Maye’s ability to use his legs to extend plays has made him an established dual-threat option for New England, while his ability to generate explosive plays without getting knocked for multiple turnovers has made him a nightmare matchup for most opposing defenses.
Stefon Diggs can attest to Maye’s ability to drop the football in the bucket, especially in tight windows and heaves down the field.
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Diggs has thrived in his first season in New England, becoming the first Patriots pass-catcher to record more than 1,000 receiving yards in a single season since 2019.
But, the first time that the veteran wideout realized that Maye was going to be a force was in October 2024 — when Diggs was still a member of the Houston Texans.
While Houston left Foxborough with a 41-21 victory, Diggs was impressed with what he saw from Maye, who made his first official NFL start in that bout with a talented Texans defense.
“It was crazy,” Diggs said. “He got like a mini standing ovation when he went out. It was one of his first games going in. He showed a lot of promise. He made some throws. He was running around. I clearly remember a ball he threw Kayshon Boutte in the back corner to the right, a touchdown. I was like, “He can spin it a little bit.”
Maye’s athleticism and arm strength have been well-established, especially during this impressive turnaround season in New England. But for Diggs, what really stands out about his quarterback goes beyond his physical tools.
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“His maturation process is second to none,” Diggs said. “One of the best I’ve ever seen from a quarterback position. He’s still super young, which is crazy. He’s had a lot of success, but as I have grown closer to him, I’m a huge fan of him. He’s like a mini-inspiration.
“To be that young, be that mature and be able to play at a high level is something that I always wanted when I was a young player. I’m just happy to be a part of this thing.”
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