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7 days ago
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Examining Drake Maye's demeanor and work ethic at OTAs
Examining Drake Maye's demeanor and work ethic at OTAs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Drake Maye has experienced some growing pains through his first few OTA practices as the New England Patriots' second-year quarterback. Advertisement In the Patriots' first OTA open to the media, Maye looked out of sorts as he threw four interceptions. He was better in Wednesday's practice, but it still was an uneven day for New England's offense. NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry was at Gillette Stadium for both OTA sessions. On a new mailbag edition of the Next Pats Podcast, Perry was asked how the 22-year-old signal-caller has carried himself amidst his struggles. 🔊 Next Pats: Taking you INSIDE Patriots OTAs – How does Drake Maye look? | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube 'I'm just curious as to Drake's demeanor and work ethic. Is he putting in the extra hours after practice with any other receivers? How is his body language out there? Is the new system and rough start to training camp rattling his confidence any?' Advertisement 'His body language and his demeanor have been fine,' Perry answered. 'You're not seeing what we saw — I think it's important to point out this kind of example — what we saw from Mac Jones. Mac Jones, he was nicknamed McEnroe for a reason by Nick Saban at Alabama, and he wore his heart on his sleeve out there on the field, both good and bad. He'd be dancing one minute, the next, he'd be firing off his chinstrap and having to blow off some steam, pacing back and forth with our buddy Brian Hoyer because he didn't like what was going on out there on the field. So, to me, (Maye was) more even-keeled, and the demeanor was OK. … 'In terms of his work ethic, that, to me, is not a question. You do see him staying after practice and throwing to guys after practice. A lot of the young receivers are out there late, (Efton) Chism and Kyle Williams, the two OTAs we've been to. I think this is something worth noting. Doesn't mean either of them are going to be All-Pros this coming year, but I think it's good. … 'So, Drake Maye's doing all those things and his body language, I think, is fine. It has been a rough start through these two practices that we've seen for Maye. It does, to me, seem like he is clearly still thinking his way through this offense, as opposed to just knowing it so cold that he is now just reacting.' You can hear everything Perry had to say about Maye by listening to the new episode of the Next Pats Podcast, or watching the YouTube video below. Advertisement Also in the episode: Should we expect growing pains with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to carry over into the season? How will Patriots handle the Stefon Diggs situation? Perry breaks down his QB rankings.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Best fits for Patriots at running back in 2025 NFL Draft
Best fits for Patriots at running back in 2025 NFL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Editor's Note: In the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Phil Perry is identifying the best fits for the Patriots at each position based on the traits that Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf value as well as intel from coaches and scouts. Advertisement We've already hit on offensive tackles and tight ends. Next up: running backs. Mike Vrabel didn't beat around the bush. When asked about potentially adding to his running back room during this week's annual league meeting, he noted that was a possibility in the draft. The Patriots already have Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson on the roster, but Vrabel suggested they could bring aboard another. 'I think so,' he said. 'Having a good young runner is something that potentially we would like to do. I thought the guys coming back, I think Rhamondre and Gibby obviously were a good one-two punch. 'People are going to talk about Rhamondre and putting the ball on the ground, and he knows that, but we'll help him there…We'll look to add good young players on offense and skill players.' 🔊 Next Pats Podcast: Patriots give Drake Maye CORNERSTONE pieces | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube Patriots owner Robert Kraft only further supported the idea of the Patriots drafting a runner when he told reporters in Palm Beach that he, as a fan, would like to see the team add a 'speed back.' Advertisement If the Patriots are looking for young players at that position, what will they be looking for? When Vrabel was in Tennessee, the Titans made investments in smaller 'sub' backs like Tajae Spears and Darrynton Evans. They also drafted a bigger back in Hassan Haskins to slot in behind the imposing All-Pro Derrick Henry. Patriots executive president of player personnel Eliot Wolf may have some traits he's interested in as well when it comes to picking players at that position. Teams run by executives who'd be considered part of the Ron Wolf tree seemed to place real value on size. Made sense for the Packers, who wanted punishing runners who could trample defenders through the cold and snow on their way to the end zone. In New England, the same would be true. As we lay out our 'Best Fits,' we'll start with some smaller options to complement Stevenson (6-feet, 227 pounds) and Gibson (6-feet, 228 pounds). Advertisement To fit with what the Titans seemed to be interested in under Vrabel, we'll focus on potential receivers out of the backfield with explosive athleticism and enough size (200 pounds and up). The Wolf tree also invested in players of that ilk, like Aaron Jones, who at 5-foot-9 weighed 208 pounds and had jumps of 37.5 inches (vertical) and 10-foot-7 (broad). We'll also lay out some 'big back' options since 15 of the 24 (62.5 percent) running backs we studied — those who were drafted by Tennessee under Vrabel or by members of the Wolf tree — weighed 216 pounds or more. Seventeen of the 24 (71 percent) ran sub-4.6-second 40-yard dash and 15 had broad jumps of 9-foot-11 or more. Let's get to the names…. Sub backs TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder is a chunk-gain merchant who has the ability to high-step into the end zone from anywhere on the field. He started for four years and reeled in 77 catches, but what makes him an especially intriguing option as a passing-down back is the fact that he has no fear in pass protection. He has plays on his resume where he jars oncoming defenders and plants them in the turf like an angry offensive lineman. His 4.43-second 40, 38.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad all suggest he's more than athletic enough for what the Patriots might like. Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech If Kraft wants a 'speed back,' there's no one in this class who fits that description better. Tuten clocked a blazing 4.32-second 40 time at this year's combine to go along with massive jumps of 40.5 inches in the vertical and 10-foot-10 in the broad. At 5-foot-9, 206 pounds he looks like a pure receiving back, but he has the toughness to handle more. He grinds out extra yards better than most in this class and has a career yards-after-contact figure (4.08) that is second only to Boise State's Ashton Jeanty. Advertisement One more reason why Vrabel might like him? Tuten returned two kicks for touchdowns as a collegian, showing a willingness to use his field-flipping ability on special teams. Jaydon Blue, Texas Like Tuten, Blue is a tad undersized (5-foot-9, 196 pounds). But like Tuten, Blue's speed is such that he deserves a mention here. He recorded a 4.37-second 40 and could end up getting drafted at some point on Day 2 due to his big-play potential. He caught 56 passes in his career for 503 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 1,61 yards rushing on 214 attempts (5.4 yards per carry). Also like Tuten, he's chipped in on special teams during his collegiate career, returning three for an average of 26.7 yards two seasons ago. RJ Harvey, UCF Josh McDaniels has worked with former-quarterbacks-turned-skill-position-players in the past, including Jakobi Meyers and Julian Edelman. Could Harvey be the next? Advertisement He went to the University of Virginia as a reserve quarterback before transferring and changing positions. Turned out to be a good idea. The 5-foot-8, 205-pounder was named a third-team AP All-American last season and set a school record at UCF with 48 total touchdowns. His 4.40-second 40 and 38-inch vertical made his combine performance one of the best of all the running backs in Indy. Donovan Edwards, Michigan The first of two Michigan backs to make this list, Edwards runs with impressive grit despite having the frame of a passing-game back (5-foot-11, 205 pounds). Per Pro Football Focus, no back in this class averaged more yards per carry against stacked boxes (eight defenders or more). Advertisement A captain for the Wolverines last year, Edwards caught 48 passes over the last two seasons and has the toughness to hang in as a pass protector. His 4.44-second 40 and 38.5-inch vertical indicate he still has the explosive traits that helped him rush for 104 yards and two scores on just six carries in his team's National Championship win over Washington two seasons ago. DJ Giddens, Kansas State Pass protection might be an issue for Giddens, but if the Patriots feel as though that can be taught, he has traits that would have to make them interested. He clocked a 4.47 at 6-feet, 212 pounds to go along with a 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-10 broad. He averaged a whopping 6.6 yards per carry last season and caught 21 passes for 258 yards. Advertisement His combination of size, speed and open-field tackle avoidance make him a possibility for any team looking for a player who can chip in on all three downs at the position. Big backs Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Jeanty is a little bit of a tweener for this particular exercise because he's not a massive human being. But he measured in at 5-foot-9 and 213 pounds — just under the 216-pound threshold of most Wolf-tree 'big backs' — and he runs like a tank. He ran for 2,062 yards last season, including a ridiculous 1,512 yards after contact. Jeanty's skill set goes well beyond his next-level contact balance. He can do it all, catching 80 passes in his 40 career games for 862 yards and six touchdowns, and making him a fit for Vrabel's locker room is that he's considered a high-level football character addition for any team. Omarion Hampton, UNC Perhaps the most powerful back in the class, Hampton has the size (6-feet, 221 pounds) and athleticism (4.46-second 40, 10-foot-10 broad) to break through the line of scrimmage and rip off chunk gains on a regular basis. NFL Media's Lance Zierlein actually compares Hampton to Stevenson as a 'high-volume battering ram.' Advertisement Hampton's vision can get him into trouble, but he's a capable receiver and his height-weight-speed combination is likely to get him drafted in the first or second round. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State The second Buckeye on this list, Judkins is the one with more pop in his pads. The 6-foot, 221-pound grinder has a knack for churning out yards that shouldn't be there. Additionally, he tested as one of the position's most explosive athletes at this year's combine (4.48-second 40, 11-foot broad). His toughness and short-yardage-conversion capabilities make him an interesting option for the Ohio State product currently sitting in the head coach's chair in Foxboro. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State If you're looking for a big back (5-foot-9, 219 pounds) who gets every last inch of every carry, Skattebo is your guy. He may not last all that long as a pro with his running style, but that doesn't make his physical approach any less impressive. Advertisement The former Sacramento State back racked up 69 catches for 891 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons at Arizona State. He also took 50 snaps at quarterback as he helped put the Sun Devils on his back and carry them to the College Football Playoff. He even has eight punts to his name. For a fan of versatility like Vrabel, Skattebo feels like a fit in New England. Damien Martinez, Miami Speaking of battering rams… Martinez (6-feet, 217 pounds) was a menace for opposing defenses last season. The Oregon State transfer ran for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns. He also forced 57 missed tackles — stepping through tackles, running through tackles, juking tackles with a nifty 'dead leg' move in open space — on his way to being one of Miami's most reliable weapons. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa The 6-foot-1, 224-pounder certainly has the frame to hold up on early-down carries as a pro. The question is if he has the juice to be a bellcow type at the next level. Advertisement For our purposes, his 4.57-second 40 is good enough to be mentioned here. More importantly, he'll fall forward for extra yardage, and he does just enough as a receiver to make him an option in the passing game. He's not going to electrify Gillette Stadium on a regular basis, but he has a nose for the end zone, having scored a school record 23 touchdowns last season to go with his 1,537 yards rushing and 188 yards receiving. Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State Gordon checked in at the combine weighing 226 pounds at 6-foot-1, but he was 233 at the Senior Bowl just before going to Indy. He's the definition of a big back. He carried 537 times for almost 3,000 yards over his career, scoring 36 touchdowns. He also caught 80 passes, suggesting he could be used on all three downs in Foxboro. Advertisement He was arrested last summer on suspicion of DUI so Vrabel would have to feel comfortable with Gordon's decision-making off the field, but he was the Doak Walker Award-winner two seasons ago (best running back in college football) and a First-Team All-American. If the Patriots want to bet on his talent, they could end up with a mid-round steal. Kalel Mullings, Michigan Mullings checks in at almost 6-foot-2 and 226 pounds, making the former Wolverines linebacker one of the biggest backs in the draft, and he didn't fumble on 185 attempts last year. From West Roxbury and Milton Academy, joining the Patriots would be a homecoming of sorts for Mullings, whose rugged style was apparent when he bounced off contact to essentially clinch The Game over Ohio State last season. Raheim Sanders, South Carolina Durability could be a concern with Sanders, whose 2023 was ended prematurely due to knee and shoulder issues. But the back nicknamed 'Rocket' bounced back in 2024 after transferring from Arkansas. He was a second-team All-SEC player and a Comeback Player of the Year, picking up 881 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. A hard-charging downhill runner, Sanders (6-feet, 217 pounds) would likely be an upside play on Day 3.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Perry: Nine offseason options for Patriots at three key positions
Perry: Nine offseason options for Patriots at three key positions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston The New England Patriots enter NFL free agency with the most cap space in the league. They have nine picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including the No. 4 overall pick and three selections inside the top 70. So, resources won't be an issue for new head coach Mike Vrabel and the Eliot Wolf-led front office. But how they deploy those resources could have a massive impact on how quickly New England can rebuild. With that in mind, our Patriots Insider Phil Perry began his latest Next Pats Podcast by outlining how he'd like to see the Patriots address their three biggest needs — offensive tackle, wide receiver and edge rusher — with a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C for each position. Here's a full rundown of Perry's preferred plan for who the Patriots should prioritize at those three positions this offseason — and who should be their top contingency plans — after talking to 'a number of different coaches and executives' in recent days. Plan A: Sign Ronnie Stanley 'Everyone I spoke to in Indy, when you talk to them about what the Patriots' priority should be, it starts with Ronnie Stanley. Because of that glaring need, because he is so far and away the best left tackle (in free agency). Plan B: Sign Cam Robinson 'I wouldn't be thrilled about it, but he would give you Band-Aid solution at left tackle. He would give you somewhat of a representative effort on a week in, week out basis at one of the most important positions in the sport.' Plan C: Draft Will Campbell (or another OT) 'If you're not able to land either Ronnie Stanley or Cam Robinson, suddenly you're in the mix to draft Will Campbell at No. 4 overall. Or maybe it's Armand Membou. Maybe you're forcing a pick in the second round and hoping that that guy can start, whether it's Aireontae Ersery or it's a pick in the third round and it's Anthony Belton.' Plan A: Sign Chris Godwin 'Chris Godwin costs you money and nothing else. You're not giving up draft compensation you're not having to pay a top-of-the market rate. … You're also getting somebody who's a professional, and I know that's something that would be appreciated here in New England in terms of your work ethic, in terms of your diligence, in terms of your approach to your job.' Plan B: Trade for DK Metcalf 'You might have to make your decision on (Metcalf) as though he is your Option A. … Because if you wait around to see whether or not you get Chris Godwin and now you pivot to DK, (the Seahawks) might have already traded him or come to an agreement on trading him with another team. 'We've got five days before the legal tampering period, and whether or not you feel like you can really get Chris Godwin to sign on the dotted line, so would DK Metcalf still be available by then? I'm not so sure.' Plan C: Trade for Jakobi Meyers 'I wrestled with this one just a little bit between Brandon Aiyuk and Jakobi Meyers. Is Aiyuk's ceiling higher than Meyers'? Yes, but Meyers, you know what kind of person (you're getting), you know how he fits in Josh McDaniels' offense, you know how he fits in terms of his willingness to perform in this area and his ability to perform in the elements.' Should Patriots pay this reported DK Metcalf trade asking price? Plan A: Trade No. 4 pick for Micah Parsons 'Call me crazy, I don't think it is. I think Micah Parsons is that good. He is solidly in his prime. You'd have to pay him a boatload of money, and I get that, but I love Micah Parsons. I love him in terms of his ability level, that part of it is obvious, but I think he cares, he's passionate he, wants to win. 'I'm thinking about him paired with Mike Vrabel and that defense and the coaching that he would get here. Given everything we saw Vrabel do with those guys in Houston and what he was able to get out of them, what do you think he might be able to get out of Micah Parsons? I think that could be a special, special, kind of fit.' Plan B: Sign Malcolm Koonce 'Koonce is a little undersized … 6-foot-3, 250 (pounds), so he's a little Harold Landry-esque in terms of his profile size-wise. Eight sacks in 17 games (in 2023). I know after guys like (Khalil Mack, Chase Young and DeMarcus Lawrence) … he's viewed as maybe the best pure rusher in free agency, and he's a middle-tier kind of give. That to me screams value signing.' Plan C: Sign Darrell Taylor 'At 6-foot-4, 255 (pounds), I like his size, I like the ability that he has to play both the run and the pass. He was 34th in pass rush grade last year per Pro Football Focus. This is a guy who was a Prototypical Patriot when he was coming out of the draft out of the University of Tennessee a few years ago, so I really like Darrell Taylor.' Also in this episode: Phil reveals his latest 7-round mock draft Lance Zierlein joins to share his thoughts on a deep defensive tackle and pass rusher class Where would you play Travis Hunter the majority of the time, receiver or cornerback?
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
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Combine buzz: ‘Very real chance' Travis Hunter falls to Pats at No. 4
Combine buzz: 'Very real chance' Travis Hunter falls to Pats at No. 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston The consensus on the 2025 NFL Draft class is that there are two 'blue chip' prospects in Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. And it's possible the New England Patriots will have the chance to take one of them at No. 4 overall. That's what our Patriots Insider Phil Perry is hearing after speaking to evaluators and others around the league at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. During a new Next Pats Podcast on Wednesday, Perry relayed what he's been told about the top of the draft, and how Hunter specifically could be available to the Patriots at No. 4 if the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants take quarterbacks with the second and third picks, respectively. 'There are a number of different evaluators here who feel as though there is a very real chance that Travis Hunter makes it all the way to the Patriots at pick No. 4, their thinking being there is a real chance that the NFL likes Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders enough — the Browns and the Giants specifically would like those two quarterbacks enough — to take them inside the top three,' Perry said. 'If Abdul Carter goes No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, then ipso facto, you get the Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter falling to the New England Patriots. … People believe there is a very real chance that (Hunter) could make it to the New England Patriots.' Ward has been viewed as a lock to go somewhere inside the top three, while Sanders' stock hasn't been as high. But the Browns and Giants both desperately need QB help, so if Ward goes Cleveland at No. 2, it isn't hard to imagine New York talking itself into Sanders at No. 3. The question then would become whether the Patriots should take Hunter — who has expressed a desire to play both receiver and cornerback at the NFL level — at No. 4, or beef up their offensive line by drafting, say, LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. Perry believes there's merit to New England taking Hunter and having him bolster the receiver room. 'The love for him at the wide receiver position when you talk to offensive coaches is off the charts,' Perry said. 'From the people I've spoken to — which would include one AFC receivers coach — he's the best receiver in this year's draft and he has legit 'No. 1 receiver in the NFL' kind of upside. 'The comparison that was given to me was (Eagles receiver) DeVonta Smith, because of the ball skills. The hands are so tremendous. The tracking is out of this world. If it's in his area, he has this incredible ability and these incredible instincts to just make sure that he is the one to go and get it. 'And imagine what he might be able to do if he focused on that position even more than he was able to at the college level because he's playing both sides of the ball? All kinds of love for Travis Hunter.' Another interesting development to track is the health of Carter, who has a stress reaction in his right foot but has decided against surgery, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. If that gives a team like the Titans pause, maybe Carter drops to the Patriots at No. 4 while Hunter goes inside the top three. Either way, both Ward and Sanders being taken within the first three picks would be a great development for New England. Also in this episode: Reaction to Eliot Wolf's press conference Why did it not work with Ja'Lynn Polk last season? Dane Brugler's best blue-collar ballers Brugler's Day 2 WRs who could be fits for the Patriots
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Patriots' latest roster move says about team's power structure
What Patriots' latest roster move says about team's power structure originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Sione Takitaki was on the field for just 17 percent of the New England Patriots' defensive snaps last season. So, why does the Patriots' release of the veteran linebacker on Wednesday warrant further discussion? For starters, Takitaki was under contract for the 2025 season after the team signed him to a two-year, $6.6 million contract in 2024 free agency. By releasing him with a year left on his deal, the Patriots are clearly signaling that they didn't view Takitaki as having a role on the 2025 squad. More notably, though, it's worth noting who was leading New England's personnel department when Takitaki was signed — de facto general manager Eliot Wolf — compared to now. Patriots Insider Phil Perry broke it all down on the latest episode of the Next Pats Podcast. 'The first thing that I think of is that Sione Takitaki was somebody that Eliot Wolf went out of his way to bring in (during) Year 1 of this new Patriots regime in 2024,' Perry said. '(Then-head coach) Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf, they needed a little bit of linebacker depth, they wanted somebody that had experience, somebody that Eliot Wolf clearly has respected going back to his time in college, when Eliot Wolf was a huge proponent of drafting Sione Takitaki to the Cleveland Browns. 'So if they are now releasing somebody that Eliot Wolf has this connection to, what does that tell us? Well, it tells me what we already knew and what we had already inferred by this point in the offseason, which is, Mike Vrabel is running the show.' Wolf was the Browns' assistant general manager in 2018 and scouted Takitaki personally coming out of BYU, leading Cleveland to take the linebacker in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. So, Wolf's connection with Takitaki clearly played a role in the Patriots signing him last offseason. As follows, Takitaki's release on Wednesday is another sign that new head coach Mike Vrabel is dictating the Patriots' personnel moves. 'If everything was up to Eliot Wolf when it came to personnel, then you might see Eliot Wolf give Sione Takitaki another shot here,' Perry said. 'This is not about salary cap. This is not about how much they were paying this guy. They have plenty of salary cap space. 'This is about Mike Vrabel looking at his team — maybe wanting to do a guy a solid, quite frankly — and looking at a player like Takitaki and understanding that this particular player at this particular position is just not going to have a spot for us. 'So, to me, that's a statement. As small a move as this may be, this is Mike Vrabel putting his stamp on his team. And you're going to continue to see moves like this.' Of the nine free agents the Patriots brought in last offseason under Wolf, five are no longer with the team — K.J. Osborn, Takitaki, Nick Leverett, Armon Watts and Chukwuma Okorafor — and another is likely to join that list in quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Running back Antonio Gibson, tight end Austin Hooper and safety Jaylinn Hawkins seem like the only realistic candidates to stay with the Patriots in 2025 after being brought in by Wolf in 2024. Put another way, Vrabel is conducting a roster overhaul, and we could see more high-profile names get released closer to free agency as he reshapes the roster in his image. Also in this episode: Phil reacts to the new NFL salary cap and what it means for the Patriots' offseason plans. Reports are Chris Godwin might be off the market… who should New England look to add now as a high-profile receiver? Jerome Bettis breaks down why old school running backs are making a comeback in the league. Former offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz explains why it can take years to build a great offensive line and shares the type of skill set New England should be looking for when drafting linemen.
