This Remark From Teammate ‘Meant The World’ To Drake Maye

Drake Maye only has started one game for the Patriots, but he might already have a favorite target.

DeMario Douglas matched his career high in targets (nine), led New England in receptions and receiving yards (six, 92) and scored his first touchdown in Maye’s first full game at the professional level. Douglas was highly complimentary of the rookie quarterback after the Patriots’ Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans, even noting how he would “run through a wall” for Maye.

The remark wasn’t taken lightly by the 22-year-old, who explained the impact of the kind words Wednesday.

“It means the world to me,” Maye told reporters, per a team-provided transcript. “It gives me confidence. I think those guys do a great job of pumping me up. They were pumping me up throughout the game on the sideline, before the game, in the huddle. They do a great job. I think wide receivers, they’ve always got the most swag. Our guys always got some swag. So, it’s nice to hear something like that, just know for those guys and try to do the same for them.”

Douglas didn’t wait until Maye’s first start was over to salute the first-year signal-caller for his confidence. The 2023 sixth-round pick even made note of it amid the heat of battle, and Maye returned serve by instilling more confidence in the speedy slot wideout.

It’s admittedly not a high bar to clear, but Douglas is comfortably New England’s most dynamic playmaker and thus should be a main focus in the offensive game plan every week. So, don’t be surprised if his chemistry with Maye keeps growing as the season unfolds.