Drake Maye dropped back and looked deep, but a late decision led to a blind check down throw out in the flat to his running back. It instead went right to Matthew Judon for an interception — Maye’s first of camp.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft said it best after practice: a rookie mistake.
What happened afterwards however, may have been the most encouraging site for the New England Patriots’ coaches.
On the next pass, Maye came right back over the middle to find Jalen Reagor on an in-breaker. The following period, he connected with David Wallis on a short crosser, had his best out route throw of the day to Ja’Lynn Polk, and ended his day by finding JaMycal Hasty out of the backfield on an angle route.
Four straight completions following the turnover, highlighting Maye’s mental makeup that has stood out to his coaches and teammates early in his career.
“[He handles it] like a professional,” veteran Jacoby Brissett said. “I mean, today he throws the pick, the next play he throws a completion. Those are the learning curves and the NFL moments that you need out here. That’s what I told him, man, that’s the game right there. That was your game today, you went out there and won the day.”
Maye’s start to his first NFL training camp has been positive. While New England’s offense has worked primarily in the short area of the field, Maye has been efficient working through his reads and delivering the ball on time.
That was apparent during a stretch on Friday in 7-on-7s, when he completed five straight passes with three going over the middle to Hunter Henry.
“I think there’s some plays where I think I’m doing a good job and there’s some plays where I think I can do a better job,” Maye said Friday. “So, I’m just trying to make it where I’m not missing the read — or not necessarily missing the read or not getting through the read as quickly as I need to out here more than one time in a row.
“If I make the same mistake today as I did Wednesday, you know I’m not make any progress. So, trying to keep that balance and just keep going at it. You’re going to make mistakes out here. That’s what practice is for. So, just keep my head up, and come back out here and sling it around.”
Despite the conservative attack early this summer, Maye has capitalized at times hitting the home run downfield — something that could separate himself from Brissett, who has struggled when pushing the ball downfield.
On Wednesday, Maye had the highlight of the day on a deep ball to Jalen Reagor, who made an impressive one handed snag. On Friday, it was Maye connecting with fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk, who the QB gave all the credit too.
“He made a nice catch. It wasn’t a great throw but Polk made a nice catch, a great player,” Maye said. “We gotta look off the safety a little bit but, yeah, made a nice play. Give him a chance, right Give those guys a chance. That’s what he’s here for, that’s what he’s making plays for. So I’m looking forward to see some more JP.”
While Brissett has operated as the starter through the first three days of camp, the coaching staff has stuck true to their word of giving Maye a chance to earn the spot. The early signs have been positive, and more performances as such will give New England’s coaches something to think about as the summer rolls on — especially as Maye’s ability as a runner is set to enter the equation more when the pads come on.
“I think it’s just a feel thing out back there. Sometimes I take off and sometimes I take off when I didn’t need to. So, just trying to balance that,” Maye said. “Part of my game is making plays and running, so I’m not going to change that.”
