Here’s what new draft pick Drake Maye said after being selected by the New England Patriots Thursday night:
On his reaction:
“I’m stoked. I’m super pumped. Can’t wait to get up to New England. I’m looking so forward to it. Just an awesome moment to get here with my family and friends. One of the best nights of my life. Can’t wait to get up there and get started and get to work.”
On when he knew the Patriots were going to take him and if it was a surprise:
“When I heard that phone ring right beside me. Kind of had the old school phone right beside me at the draft. Once that rang, it rang real early, rang right at 10 minutes right when the Patriots were on the clock. I heard it started ringing and it’s one of the moments I’ll remember forever and I’ll cherish. I think my mom grabbed that phone and took it with her. But we’ll remember forever.”
On if she let him have any words or if she picked up the phone:
“Exactly. No, she let me pick it up. It was a little tough to hear, but it was great. You could hear him pretty clear.”
On who was with him in Detroit:
“I’ve got my three older brothers. Three of my best friends. Even my older brother Luke, he plays basketball overseas in Japan, he flew back yesterday and made it in for the trip. My two parents. My long-time girlfriend and ten of my friends and family came up as a surprise yesterday. So awesome night. Can’t wait. I know they’re excited. We have a whole bunch of Patriots fans now, so I’m excited to see that.”
On what stood out to him about the Patriots in the pre-draft process:
“I think when I put in the 30 visit, not only the history on the wall, but kind of just the model of their work ethic. Grind it out. The Patriots have been a dynasty and one of the best areas, best sports towns, I think it’s the best in the country. I’m so looking forward to getting up there. Getting to see it. Getting to see Gillette Stadium and just looking forward to that. That’s kind of what coach Mayo preaches. He’s such a player’s coach. I can see how the guys attract to him and looking forward to playing for him and meeting everybody else.”
On if he had any conversations with anyone who is currently on the Patriots:
“I have. I actually got to know, actually, Jacoby Brissett over the summer. Conor McDermott, I got to meet him at the Super Bowl, and then I’ve … who else on the Patriots … Gonzo, a little bit, you know, the DB. And other than that, I’m just excited to meet everybody else and can’t wait to get in the locker room. I remember walking through it. They’ve got a basketball hoop in there in the locker room and I was shooting at it, that’s what I remember. So can’t wait to get up there and meet the rest of the guys and just kind of get going.”
On his feelings about being in a quarterback room with Jacoby Brissett:
“Yeah, awesome. He’s been so many different places, so many different offenses. I think he’s been in this offense before with Coach Van Pelt, and just looking forward to getting to learn from him. I know he’s an old guy, old vet, and he can still play. So I’m looking forward to help contributing in any way and just looking forward to getting to see him and I know he’s the man.”
On where he met Brissett:
“I met him through Sam Howell, back when he was with the Commanders. Met him through mutual friends, they’re great buddies, and Sam speaks so highly of him. So I got to meet Jacoby and looking forward to being in the same room again.”
On meeting Alex Van Pelt and what he’s looking forward to in this offense:
“Yeah. Oh Yeah. I met Coach. We met first time at the formal interview at the Combine. He was asking some questions. And I went up there for the 30 visit and went through some of the film. Outside zone scheme, and he liked to throw it around. He was showing some clips and playaction stuff with Rodgers back in the day in Green Bay. So I’m looking forward to being in that offense. I know they’ve had a lot of success in the past and just looking forward to kind of finding my way to best contribute to Pats Nation.”
On the Patriots situation being one of the worst for a rookie quarterback and how he feels about it:
“I think they’re wrong. I think that defense last year, held a lot of teams to low points. Looking forward to helping any way in the offense offensively, and just looking forward to being there for Coach Mayo in his first year, congrats to him. I think anybody who’s saying that, hopefully we’ll find out coming this season. Work hard with the guys and prove them wrong.”
On the fact people think of Tom Brady and what he thinks of following in his footsteps:
“Yeah, Tom Brady’s the GOAT. It’s easy to say that. He’s the best that’s ever played this game. I’m not going to be Tom Brady. I’m just going to try to be Drake Maye. From there, I’m just trying to learn from him, hopefully get to know him a little bit, and other than that, just try to soak it up, and be a sponge and try to learn all I can from him. He’s the man in that town.”
On what the Patriots first brought up in his first Combine Interview:
“Yeah, I think the first thing is just getting to know me was the first thing. Asked me some background questions, some family questions. That was the first time I talked to them was at the Combine because I didn’t do any Senior Bowl stuff, or any of that. Was just kind of asked some background questions about my family, about my past two years and they put me up on the board a little bit and watched some tape. Some good plays, I remember, and some of them were bad. So just kind of wanted to know my thought process and just being honest up there. I remember drawing up a play, I think they put it against cover two, I drew up a play. So … ”
On the fact Mayo made it clear he wasn’t the starter and if he knew that and what his understanding is on that:
“Yeah. They asked … just me in front of a bunch of coaches. I think my first thing is just help any way I can contribute. I’ll prepare and be ready to be the starter, but at the same time I think you know as a young guy coming in there, it’s not given to you, you’ve got to earn it. The NFL is someplace you’ve got to work your butt off and my job is to go in there and earn the guys’ respect. Help whoever is the starter if I’m not, I’ll be the best player that I can and help this team win.”
On his ability to attack the whole field and on what would be his bread and butter play on a 4th and 7 play?
“Yeah, no doubt. I think throwing something across the middle. I think I see it well, I’m a big 6’5″ dude back there where it’s a seam shot, big dig, corner route, corner post. Anything across the middle of the field. I feel like I can make the throw, make all the throws, and I’m excited … if it’s not there, I can go make a play for myself. So I think that’s the most … looking forward to it and hopefully kind of expand that game into the NFL.”
On if he’s the type of guy who feeds off outside noise:
“I think control what I can control, that’s the biggest thing. All the outside noise, is part of the media trying to make headlines. The biggest thing for me is to worry about my play on the field and how I am as a teammate in the locker room and a man in the community. So that’s what I’m worried about. All the outside noise, I think comes with my play on the field, and that’s what I can control.”
On Wolf saying he liked his ability to elevate players on the field and what he feels help him do that:
“No doubt. I think that’s a huge part of being the quarterback. You’re the face of the team. They look to you and my responsibility is to get the guys, get to know them personalities, I think that’s the biggest thing. Genuine relationships, that’s kind of what I feed off of. Get to know the guys truly because you may not be able to handle different guys the same way. One guy you may be able to get on him a little bit, yell at him, or be a little harder on him. Back in North Carolina, some of the receivers, I could do that. Some of the offensive linemen, I was more kind of gentle and friendly and just picking them up. So get to know the guys personally, I think that’s the biggest thing. And just be one of the guys. I think I’m coming in there as a top three pick rookie, I think you kind of just stay humble. And don’t let that … worry about my play on the field and winning games. That’s not what I’m playing the game for. I talk about I love football, I love winning and I think the biggest thing is, I hate losing. Hate losing anything I do, doesn’t matter what it is.”
On what Patriots fans can expect from him:
“A competitor and a winner. I think that’s the main two things that come to mind. It doesn’t matter if I’m racing you out the door, or on the football field competing. I think I’m competing to win. That’s what Patriots Nation is about. That’s what they know how to do and I’m ready to come in and do that.”
On how it feels to have this portion of the offseason behind him:
“It’s awesome, actually. I think it was a long process. Straight from the season into working out for the Combine, then Pro Day, then these visits. So, it was an awesome experience, though. A lot of learning. A lot of get to know about the NFL. Get to know about the league. Meet a lot of different people. A lot of awesome coaches and awesome players. But I’m excited to get to rookie minicamp, get to know the fellow Patriots, and just ready to get to Foxborough.”
On what he learned during the course of the interviews that he knows he needs to address before he takes the field:
“No doubt. I think the biggest thing I learned is just be myself. Don’t change for the NFL. Don’t change for anybody that’s hating or downplaying me. Just be myself. Be who I am. I’m not going to change. You’re getting Drake Maye. It’s who I am. You’re going to see it day in and day out. I may not have as much energy as I may sitting in one of those interview rooms as now. But it’s one of the best days of my life. Can’t thank Pats Nation enough and the front office coaches for trusting me. I promise you won’t regret it. And looking forward to it.”
Here’s the video:
(Editor’s Note: This transcript is done via the available footage and is subject to typos. If you spot something, please take a moment to let me know in the comments below.)
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
