FOXBORO, Mass. -- New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has looked like one might've expected him to through four training camp sessions.
Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has struggled with some inconsistencies and inaccuracies. Those were on display during Day 4 at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. He's played conservatively, as was the case during Day 2. He threw a pick-six to Matthew Judon during Day 3 on Friday, which Maye called a "rookie mistake."
But Maye, who has cemented himself as the second-stringer behind expected starter Jacoby Brissett, also has showed glimpses of why he was the No. 3 selection. He's made a clear effort to improve his footwork and mechanics, oftentimes ensuring those are correct before anything else. He's flashed his high-level traits, including his athleticism and deep-ball accuracy.
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With that, we've highlighted five of his best plays from his first week of training camp:
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Day 1: Deep pass to Jalen Reagor in 7-on-7s
Sure, Reagor’s one-handed grab to beat cornerback Azizi Hearn might have been the most notable aspect of the play. The Patriots wideout needed to track it down, haul it in with one hand and stay in bounds, after all.
But Maye’s throw down the sideline – it would have been a 50-something yard touchdown on gameday -- was effortless. It was incredibly smooth. It was accurate. And given the ball came out as quickly as it did, it spoke to Maye’s processing time. Those are all qualities the Patriots were betting on when they draft Maye with the third overall pick. It was his first deep shot of Day 1 and was one of a few deep throws entering Sunday’s practice.
Day 1: Play-action rollout to JuJu Smith-Schuster in 11-on-11s
The highlight-reel connection with Reagor might have captured the most attention on social media and sparked the loudest cheers at Gillette Stadium on Day 1. But a different play stood out as Maye’s best in the opening practice.
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Maye perfectly executed a play-action rollout to the right side, which mirrored a bootleg drill Patriots quarterbacks go through each practice. It wasn’t a long throw, a chain-mover not a deep ball, but it nevertheless went for a sidearm strike to Smith-Schuster. It, again, was effortless. It showed Maye’s athleticism and comfortability of throwing on the run, throwing off-platform without his feet set and ability to make plays out of the pocket. It was a snapshot of his physical gifts. And based on New England’s carousel at the tackle position and questions along the offensive line, it’s those gifts which make it fair to question whether Maye could (at times) be better for the Patriots offense than Brissett.
Day 3: Deep throw to Ja’Lynn Polk in 11-on-11s
Maye didn’t think it was a great throw. He thought he should have looked Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins off a little more, as Hawkins would have had the chance to line up Polk if it was a full-contact game. But Maye’s connection with Polk still made for one of the offense’s best plays through three sessions. Maye pump-faked and threw a deep pass as the second-round wideout raced down the sideline with Hearn in coverage. The ball dropped into Polk’s hands, and Polk wisely went to the ground to protect himself from an oncoming hit. On another stagnant day for New England’s offense, it was a notable momentum-builder – as depicted by Hunter Henry’s enthusiastic reaction to Polk’s catch. It also was one of the longest offense plays thus far.
Day 4: Deep throw to Kayshon Boutte in 1-on-1s
A main theme of these throws from Maye? They're effortless. And his deep shot to Boutte, who was covered by Patriots top cornerback Christian Gonzalez, was much of the same. It came during a 1-on-1 portion Sunday, the first time New England held competitive 1-on-1s in camp. Boutte gave Gonzalez a stutter-step around 10 yards and raced down the sideline. Maye put the ball over the top to where only his receiver could get it as Gonzalez played Boutte's low shoulder. Boutte looked like he got both feet in bounds before somersaulting to the ground.
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You can watch it here.
Day 4: Drop by JuJu Smith-Schuster in 1-on-1s
Including a throw that didn't go for a completion might feel weird, but it really was one of Maye's best through four days. Smith-Schuster went up against cornerback Alex Austin in 1-on-1s and Maye put the ball perfectly into Smith-Schuster's hands. He couldn't have hand-delivered it better. Austin, however, got his own hand in after it looked like the ball was secured and ultimately ripped it out of Smith-Schuster's grasp for the incompletion.
You can watch it here.
Maye and the fully-padded Patriots will be back in action at Gillette Stadium on Monday.
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Featured image via Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports Images
