Patriots select quarterback Drake Maye with No. 3 pick in NFL draft

Drake Maye had one phrase to explain how he felt after discovering out he’d be starting his NFL profession with the Patriots.

“Stoked,” he stated minutes after New England chosen the North Carolina quarterback with the No. 3 decide in Thursday’s NFL draft.

If Maye was feeling the burden of being the quarterback to aim to revive the six-time Tremendous Bowl champions within the post-Invoice Belichick period, he didn’t present it.

Maye turns into the second quarterback taken within the first spherical by New England since 2021 and will probably be its newest try and discover a franchise quarterback following Tom Brady’s departure after the 2019 season. New England traded 2021 first-round decide Mac Jones to Jacksonville earlier this offseason.

“Tom Brady’s the G.O.A.T. It’s straightforward to say that,” Maye stated. “I’m not going to be Tom Brady. I’m simply going to attempt to be Drake Maye. From there I’m simply making an attempt to study from him. and hopefully attempt to get to know him somewhat bit. Aside from that, attempt to soak it up and be a sponge. And attempt to study all I can from him. He’s the person in that city.”

At 6-foot-4 and 220 kilos, Maye checks lots of the packing containers the Patriots had been searching for, with perfect arm energy and athleticism. He additionally will probably be coming right into a state of affairs wherein all the offense will probably be studying a contemporary system beneath new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

The Patriots completed 4-13 and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years final season, main staff proprietor Robert Kraft deciding to half methods with Belichick after 24 seasons and rent his former assistant Jerod Mayo.

Maye’s choice served as the primary large determination for director of scouting Eliot Wolf. Along with teaching, Belichick had been the staff’s de issue common supervisor with the ultimate say in personnel choices.

For now, Kraft has entrusted that energy to Wolf, who will probably be serving because the lead voice within the Patriots’ draft room all through the weekend.

Wolf stated they’ve identified for “weeks” that Washington could be taking Jayden Daniels No. 2 and their focus shifted to Maye.

Maye’s character stood out all through the draft course of,” Wolf stated.

“He was one of many solely quarterbacks on this draft that went up there after each loss and dealt with the media,” Wolf stated. “He dealt with it with grace, with class. There have been quite a lot of instances the place the reporters had been making an attempt to get him to throw any person beneath the bus, and he wouldn’t do it. He’s a 21-year-old child, however he’s very mature and understands what it means to be a pacesetter.”

Mayo stated that in Maye’s pre-draft go to to the Patriots’ staff facility, one of many issues they did was put collectively a video that includes a few of his highlights and errors throughout his school profession.

They had been impressed how Maye was in a position to zero in on what he did fallacious and clarify what ought to have transpired to make the performs higher.

Mayo stated it’s additionally been made clear that Maye wouldn’t be strolling into the constructing because the Day 1 starter.

“We’re not sitting right here saying Drake is our beginning quarterback. I feel he understands that,” Mayo stated. “He understands the issues he must get higher at.”

The Patriots have made strikes this offseason to permit Maye to ease into a possible beginning function.

Earlier than buying and selling Jones they signed veteran Jacoby Brissett — who was initially drafted by New England in 2016 — to a one-year deal.

However the hope is that Maye will probably be ultimately assist the Patriots flip the web page on their latest misses at discovering a quarterback.

New England introduced in 2015 MVP Cam Newton in 2020, however he lasted just one season because the starter earlier than the Patriots drafted Jones the next yr.

Jones began sturdy, incomes a Professional Bowl choice as a rookie and appeared like one of many finds of his class.

However he regressed in Yr 2 beneath first-time offensive play-caller Matt Patricia. Jones then struggled once more final season after Invoice O’Brien returned as coordinator with the Patriots’ offense rating within the backside half of the league in a number of classes.

One of many individuals critiquing Maye on Thursday was Belichick, who was serving as an analyst on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Present” broadcast from the draft. Belichick he felt the Patriots crammed one in all their greatest wants by deciding on a quarterback. He additionally recognized offensive sort out and receiver as different prime wants.

“Drake compares himself so much to Josh Allen. He’s been doing that for fairly some time. We’ll see about that,” Belichick stated.

He stated Maye’s footwork within the pocket wants to enhance.

“Good measurement, runs nicely, has good arm,” Belichick stated. “Simply he hasn’t performed very a lot. He actually doesn’t have quite a lot of expertise and he makes some large performs.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl