It’s the bottom of the ninth in Fenway, bases loaded, and the rookie slugger steps up to the plate. The crowd holds its breath. That’s Drake Maye’s world right now—a pressure cooker of expectations as the New England Patriots’ hopeful franchise quarterback. But unlike baseball’s slow burn, football waits for no one. Enter two Patriots legends, ready to play Yoda to Maye’s Luke Skywalker.
Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski aren’t just handing out autographs these days. They’re dishing hard-earned wisdom to the 22-year-old Maye, whose arm could either revive a dynasty or become another “what if?” in Foxborough folklore. Meanwhile, newly signed $69 million receiver Stefon Diggs is already stirring the pot—comparing Maye to a certain Buffalo Bills superstar.
On the Dudes on Dudes podcast on March 27, Gronkowski and Edelman were as candid as one can be in their new segment, Sole Searching. “If I was Drake Maye, I’d be around Josh McDaniels as much as possible,” Gronk said. “Carpool to work with him. Maybe offer to coach his kids flag football team. Whatever it takes, I would be picking the brain of legendary offensive coordinator, Super Bowl winner Josh McDaniels.” Edelman doubled down…
“I would live in the film room and watch players that succeeded in the system you’re about to run. So watch Tom Brady‘s old film because that’s the offense that you’re going to run… the faster you know the offense, the more you get to use your athleticism and your god-given talent,” Jules added. The message?
Maye’s raw talent—4,123 total yards and 28 touchdowns as a rookie—is just the appetizer. To thrive in McDaniels’ system, he’ll need Brady-level precision. And you have quarterback coach Ashton Grant, who gushed at the Patriots’ draft party: “This kid is going to be special… This guy is a next-level thinker. He’s well-rounded. I think there’s no better quarterback you’d want in your franchise.” Besides, Maye isn’t just watching film.
He’s studying the Patriots’ history. During an interview with NBC Sports Boston, he admitted to digging into old footage of Tom Brady’s practices, including seven-on-sevens with Rob Gronkowski. “What a cool thing to have film on Tom back in the day,” Maye said. “I found myself [watching] him throwing to Gronk in seven-on-seven. So it’s pretty cool.” For Maye, Brady’s precision in McDaniels’s system isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a roadmap. Meanwhile, Edelman pinpointed Maye’s Achilles’ heel.
Wobbly footwork. “Too many times last year, Drake Maye was falling away from his target. He made the throws, but sometimes the ball placement of the throw wasn’t where it needed to be, and a lot of that has to do with your feet. When you get your feet cleaned up… and you know where to go with the ball, that’s when you get your most accurate throws,” he said. For Maye, that means drilling footwork daily—even if it’s less thrilling than launching 60-yard bombs. But then you have Stefon Diggs, the Patriots’ $69 million gamble.
Stefon Diggs: the veteran voice in Drake Maye’s huddle
The four-time Pro Bowler, now 31 and fresh off a knee injury, didn’t mince words about his new QB: “People say through the grapevine he acts a lot like Josh [Allen]. And you know, that was my guy. So, I look forward to meeting him and connecting with him.” Translation: Diggs sees shades of Buffalo’s MVP-caliber QB in Maye’s swagger.
Diggs’s résumé—5,372 yards and 37 TDs with Allen—speaks volumes. But in New England, he’s swapping star power for a rebuild. “My job is to get open and catch the ball. So, I just look forward to getting back out there and being one of the weapons for him,” Diggs said. Simple? Maybe. But for a Patriots offense ranked 30th in scoring, his presence alone is a seismic shift.
Can Maye bridge the gap between potential and legacy? The Patriots’ brain trust is betting big. McDaniels’s scheme, Grant’s coaching, and Diggs’s mentorship form a trifecta of support. However, history whispers caution: Since 2023, New England’s 8-26 record is the AFC East’s basement dweller.
As philosopher Yogi Berra once said, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” For Drake Maye, that future starts now—armed with wisdom from legends, a star receiver’s trust, and the clips of Brady’s greatness flickering on his iPad. Will Foxborough’s faithful be chanting his name by January or reaching for the panic button?
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