Drake Maye embracing leadership role in his second season, and other observations from Patriots training camp

Boston Globe

23-07-2025

Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Hunter Henry, Ja'Lynn Polk, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Kyle Williams joined Maye and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs not only for throwing sessions but for dinners, rounds of Spikeball, jet-skiing, and more.
'You miss those guys for a month,' Maye said Wednesday. 'You just want to get back and get a refresher for them, whether that's route-wise, play-wise. I think the most important thing is just bonding together, getting together, going out to eat, having some fun, and getting some work in. I was glad that those guys came out and showed up.'
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This offseason represented a marked change for Maye. After spending training camp last year deferring to veteran Jacoby Brissett, not wanting to overstep as a rookie, the 22-year-old Maye has now been thrust into a leadership role.
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Maye said that transition is something he and Vrabel have discussed.
'He does a great job of giving me points where I can improve, points where, 'Hey, maybe do this,' ' Maye said. 'I think he's also letting me go and kind of letting me see where I'm at. I think it's a challenge for me to lead this football team and lead this offense.'
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Wednesday's practice was relatively humdrum — the team isn't practicing in pads yet — but Maye still recognized the importance of setting the tone. He stressed the value in taking every practice seriously, no matter the circumstances.
'I think practice translates to the games,' Maye said. 'It's hard to get this simulation. It's not basketball. You can't go get shots, open 3-pointers. There's nothing like being in the mix of it with a lot of bullets going. So, I'm trying to earn my stripes in practice. And then from there, just try going along and hopefully win some games. And I think that'll help.'
The Patriots underwent significant roster turnover this offseason, with close to half of the players being new faces. Of the players returning, Maye said he wants to set an example for the rest of the team — and some have already noticed.
'He's definitely becoming a leader,' Douglas said. 'I feel like this is his team.'
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye connected with some of his fans on Day 1 of training camp.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Other notes and observations from the first training camp practice of the year …
⋅ Owner Robert Kraft briefly met with the media before practice to discuss the team's 'Pawtriots' initiative, a dog adoption program that gives fans a chance to take home a pet from the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Kraft spoke only briefly about the upcoming season, saying he's hopeful this camp marks 'the start of a new chapter' after back-to-back 4-13 records.
'I think back to 31 seasons ago and remember being a season ticket-holder,' Kraft said. 'We only had one home playoff game before our family bought it. I remember how I felt in 1978 when we lost to the Houston Oilers [in the divisional round]. Earl Campbell ran for over 100 yards. I dreamt of owning the team and trying to create something special. Except for the last two years, I think we've done really well.'
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Kraft also expressed excitement about the opportunity to reconnect with Vrabel, who played eight seasons in New England and won three Super Bowls.
'He was a little bit tough when he was a player,' Kraft said. 'He represented the union. I remember — this is the only stadium that's fully private — so we had to invest in the land around it to hopefully get economic activity to justify us doing this. He wanted the revenue to go to the union for the [salary] cap. I remember duking it out with him. Now that we have totally aligned interests, I hope he can bring that same spirit and energy.'
Although commentary from an eternal optimist such as Kraft can sometimes fall flat, there are reasons to believe the Patriots will improve this season. Vrabel already has set the standard with his no-nonsense approach, while the team addressed some of its key weaknesses in free agency and the draft.
'I feel good about the foundation of what we have now,' Kraft said. 'Now we have to go execute and make that happen.'
Patriots owner Robert Kraft, wife Dana Blumberg, and dog Heisman arrive at the field for the opening of training camp.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
⋅ An initial surprise absence from Wednesday's practice was Polk, who was not on the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) list headed into camp. Polk later made an appearance on a stationary bike but did not participate in team drills. The 2024 second-round pick was a limited participant throughout spring practices while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
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In attendance to watch practice was Ron Wolf, Hall of Fame general manager and the father of executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, as well as quarterback Brian Hoyer.
⋅ After getting cleared to practice fully,
Diggs, just nine months removed from his ACL tear, will be managed throughout camp in order to not overload his knee. But he's certainly made an early impression.
'I'm super excited to play football, earning the respect of my teammates, earning the respect of my coaches,' he said. 'That's all I want to do right now. I'm taking it day by day. A lot of people want to throw a lot of anticipation out there, getting excited. You can't get too excited. It's Day 1. I just want to conquer Day 1.'
The fact that Diggs was able to practice from the get-go allows him to help build rapport and trust with Maye, along with the rest of the offense.
'He made some plays out here today,' Maye said. 'It's awesome being able to throw to a guy like that. Any time when you feel like he's not open, he's going to go make a play for you.'
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The 31-year-old Diggs also spent time before practice interacting with the crowd and playing catch with cheering kids. He could be on his way to becoming a fan favorite, especially if production follows suit.
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⋅ Williams probably had the catch of the day, hauling in a pass with Christian Gonzalez in coverage. The rookie finished with two receptions during 11-on-11 drills.
'He was backside one-on-one with Gonzo,' Maye said. 'He made a big-time catch. Strong hands. I told him to maybe sell it a little more, just try to give him a go-route feel. But I think he's coming along. He's looking good.'
Williams developed a reputation in college for his ability to make contested catches and win one-on-one matchups — and, so far, he has delivered. Reeling in a catch over Gonzalez makes the play all the more impressive.
'Good for a rookie to make a play like that,' Maye said. 'I think he is just going to get better and better.'
⋅ The left guard competition is underway, with 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace, 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange, and rookie Jared Wilson in the mix.
Strange appears to be the leader for the starting job, as he has the most experience at the position and also took snaps with the first team during the spring. Wilson, meanwhile, took additional reps as a backup center to Garrett Bradbury.
Left guard remains the biggest question mark across the offensive line, but there is pressure on the unit as a whole. The Patriots are still practicing without pads, so it's difficult to comprehensively evaluate the line.
Nicole Yang can be reached at