Patriots Notes: Dissecting what we saw from Drake Maye on Day 1 of OTAs

Patriots Notes: Dissecting what we saw from Drake Maye on Day 1 of OTAs originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

FOXBORO – Eliot Wolf has made that clear since the combine, well before Drake Maye or anyone else was drafted to New England, well before any free agents were signed. He knew what his team-building philosophy would be and how it would differ from Bill Belichick’s.

“I think there will be a little more reliance on playing young players,” Wolf said at the time. “I think it’s very important in today’s football to be able to count on young players and develop from within.”

Sketch and develop. Sketch and develop. That was the beat of the Patriots’ offseason.

Why, then, in the first Organized Team Activity practice of the spring, was Maye looking like a third-string quarterback?

The 21-year-old from North Carolina took reps behind Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe on Monday, working ahead of fellow rookie Joe Milton.

There could be a myriad of reasons why the No. 3 overall pick would be third.

It may be that the most efficient way to practice is to have the newbies who are still learning third and fourth in the pecking order, behind the vets. It could be a nod to older players that they will have the opportunity to compete for jobs. It could be a message to young players that they need to earn their position.

Everything would be understandable. Unless and until that kind of scattershot of practice reps inhibits Maye’s growth.

At this point, it’s too early to say that things will continue like this. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo told reporters before the first of 13 OTA practices that the spread of quarterback reps wouldn’t necessarily be indicative of how things would work in the future.

“No, this will not be indicative of what we do,” Mayo explained. “I think it’s a day-to-day thing. You know, you try to keep all these guys on the same rep count. But at the same time, on any given day, this guy could do 30 reps and this other guy could do five, but As we work through the week, this may change.”

And that must change at some point. Maye is in the organization’s long-term plans. He It is the long-term plan for the organization. Brissett will have a real chance to start Week 1. Both need to practice with their new teammates. And a lot of it.

Zappe and Milton, in turn, can compete for third place.

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In a story by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, it is clear that the team plans to “narrow the competition down to three guys” when training camp begins. Asked on Monday about reducing the room, Mayo acknowledged that this would eventually happen.

“Once we get to training camp, this will be real football,” he said. “So here in the spring, we’re going to rock four. But once we get to training camp, you’re going to have to start cutting down the roster.”

Reporters will be back on the fields behind Gillette Stadium for OTA work on May 29th. The Patriots know how the work is divided will get a lot of attention, and perhaps practice will look different.

But on Day One, in a league where highly drafted quarterbacks typically play early, it was noteworthy to see New England’s highly drafted passer wait his turn behind not one but two of his veteran teammates.

Here are some of our other lessons from Monday’s work…

Maye’s footwork in focus

The Patriots will hold their “Quarterback School” sessions regularly with this new offensive coaching staff. Mike McCarthy has brought passer-specific drills with him across the league and now two of his former assistants in Green Bay – Alex Van Pelt and Ben McAdoo – have the opportunity to do some of the same things in Foxboro.

The quarterbacks worked to gain ground while taking snaps and moving away from the center. They worked to get past the bags on the ground, with their eyes up, then trying to make accurate throws into the net. They played from an imaginary pocket and out.

For Maye, whose footwork has been criticized long before the draft, he looked fluid in motion. There were times when he seemed deliberate and methodical in his takedown. But — out on a date with a bag – it would be hard to call his footwork a problem. In real time, he’s not much different from his fellow veterans.

He appeared to rush some steps in a team exercise that resulted in a misfire on a check. But it’s clear he’s a good athlete. It would be interesting to hear from his offensive coaches what they see as fixable in the short term and how they have seen him progress in a short period of time.

Expect “Quarterback School” to continue to be a staple in spring training.

Maye’s Snacks

Maye completed six of his seven competitive attempts, with one miss (mentioned above) on a checkdown. He threw another short throw to a running back, but made two zip throws to the sideline for completions on outside routes.

Maye could be seen throughout practice talking to Van Pelt and McAdoo, and he also spent some time going over things with Brissett. At the end of practice, Brissett and Maye shared offensive reps on one field, while Zappe and Milton took snaps on the other.

When the session ended, Maye pitched to rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker for several minutes. They were the last three on the field.

Offensive line change

It’s a different group in the trenches these days. Mike Onwenu remains at right tackle after re-signing in the offseason. Alongside him on Monday was veteran rookie Nick Leverett at right guard. David Andrews occupied the center position with Sidy Sow at left guard and Chukwuma Okorafor at left tackle.

Okorafor signed as a free agent after six years as a right tackle with Pittsburgh.

“I think it takes time,” Okorafor said after practice when asked about playing on the left side of the line. “I played it right all along (with the Steelers). It’s obviously new. I’m trying to learn what’s left from now on. I’m just trying to learn a whole new playbook. I’m trying to learn a whole new city, a whole new city, so Everything is kind of new to me now.”

Attendance check

Matthew Judon, Davon Godchaux, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings were not seen at the session.

Judon is in the final year of his contract. After having money transferred from 2024 to 2023 last summer, his contract is scheduled to pay him a base salary of $6.5 million. Coming off a season-ending injury, Judon’s contract situation and availability are worth watching.

Uche and Jennings signed new contracts this offseason. Godchaux, meanwhile, is in the final year of his contract, but doesn’t have the guaranteed money he’s owed, according to Over the Cap.

Cole Strange, Kendrick Bourne and Jahlani Tavai were present but did not participate. Bourne and Strange are returning from season-ending injuries. Tavai was limping on the field and appears to be dealing with a lower body ailment.

Of Strange’s injury, Mayo said: “He’s more, say, week to week or you can go month to month if you want.”

Stevenson, a busy man

On a day when the Patriots’ offense focused on starting work, Rhamondre Stevenson had a lot to do. He didn’t just perform a series of zone transfers. But he was also targeted in both the screen game and the traditional pass game. He looked fast and well conditioned.

Fast hitters

Kayshon Boutte made the catch of the day along the sideline, spreading wide for a Milton giveaway… Milton didn’t receive any 11-on-11 reps, but was sharp in 7-on-7 work, completing all four passes… Milton passed a receiver on a fade while working against the air… KJ Osborn had a drop… Zappe fumbled… Kyle Dugger broke up a Brissett pass on a seven-on-seven job… Van Pelt used a microphone during training, its audio was captured by the internal content team for a video to be released later… The music was played throughout almost the entire session.