New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has a good feeling about rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and it’s not just because of his first-round talent.
Maye impressed Kraft in their first meeting after the Patriots signed the North Carolina product with the third pick in the first round of the draft. Tuesday on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & BertrandKraft shared what he noticed during Mayes’ first appearance in Foxboro.
“The first thing I really liked was when we signed him, he came here and his three brothers came with him,” Kraft said. “The older brother (Luke) who plays basketball in Japan. They all came. They’re a unit. They’re a strong family and that just told me something about the type of support. You know, I worry about these young guys that come here and have NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) income, that they don’t care about winning and they don’t put the team first.
“I also want to mention that he brought his girlfriend with him, who he’s been with since seventh grade. So he seems very solid and has good values. He comes early, he works hard. All the fundamentals are there and I think he has a good foundation.”
Maye has a close relationship with his three brothers, Luke, Cole and Beau. Luke and Beau played basketball at UNC, while Cole played baseball for the University of Florida.
The 2024 season marks the beginning of a new era for the Patriots, who will be without legendary head coach Bill Belichick for the first time in 25 years. Jerod Mayo has replaced the six-time Super Bowl winner, with Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh taking over the front office duties.
Although expectations are low for New England’s first season under the new regime, Kraft is cautiously optimistic about his team’s future.
“I believe we are going to build something very special,” he added. “I love the way the coaching staff is being trained and the culture with the players and in the locker room. Now we have to deliver on the field.”
Maye is expected to begin the 2024 season as the No. 2 player in the Patriots’ lineup behind veteran Jacoby Brissett. The 21-year-old played just one series in the first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, so it will be worth keeping an eye on his snap counts in Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
