Drake Maye Raves About Former North Carolina Teammate After Patriots Signing

The New England Patriots made an effort to beef up the linebacker room this week following the injury to Robert Spillane.

The Patriots signed linebacker Amari Gainer to their practice squad and linebacker Chad Muma to the active roster.

Gainer is a five-year ACC veteran who played his final college season at the University of North Carolina in 2023.

That was also the final season for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who threw for more than 300 yards per game for the Tar Heels.

Now reunited in Foxboro, Maye had nothing but praise for his former teammate.

“I played with him my last year in college,” Maye said. “He’s a great guy in the locker room. He’s good on the edge. He’s fast. He’s played inside a little bit. He’s played on the edge.”

Gainer recorded 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his one season at UNC. He finished his college career with 237 total tackles.

“He played inside at Florida State, if I remember, in college,” Maye said. “He moved to the edge once he got to North Carolina. So, I know he was with Vegas, and it’s good to see him back. I think everybody’s just trying to see what they can do just to help us, whether it’s on game day, throughout practice or whatever he can do.”

Gainer appeared in 17 games as a rookie with the Las Vegas Raiders, playing mostly in a special teams capacity. The 25-year-old provides good size to the practice squad and a great motor, according to Maye.

“I know he’s going to work hard, and I know he’s got a good work ethic,” Maye said.