TRANSCRIPT: Drake Maye Press Conference 9/3
Follow us
Follow Us
🕑 Read Time: 8 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots Transcripts
HOME > Patriots Blog > Patriots Transcripts
Here’s what Drake Maye had to say during his press conference on Wednesday, September 3, 2025:
On his thoughts on the Raiders defense, what he studies, and the challenges:
“Yeah, I think first off, what Coach Carroll has done in this league. He’s had some great defenses. Obviously, his scheme and obviously the one Crosby jumps out on tape, and they got some veteran linebackers, some guys that play hard and come up and hit you. And I think they’re good at what they do. I think you’re going to know. They’re going to bring it every play. And I think for us, we just got to stay ahead of the chains and try to do our best to get off to a good start. And then, like I said, just follow our keys. You know, 98. He’s a great player in this league, plays hard, plays with a lot of effort. And they got a couple of veteran in safety who’s made some plays and good ball skills. So we got to be on our game. It’s good to be out there in week one, starting at home. So I’m excited and looking forward to it.”
On when it comes to Crosby, a lot of people look at the offensive line and how they handle him, but how can the rest of the offense maybe neutralize what he’s able to do on the field:
“No doubt. I think it starts with me, getting the ball out on time, not holding it, knowing don’t bypass the first guy open, I see open, trying to hunt a deeper one. The running backs can help in the protection. I think little things like that. And I think scheme. I think me just getting us in the right plays and knowing when he’s one-on-one and knowing when we have help to him. I think from there, just like I said, follow our keys and know if it’s emphasis for us this week, then just follow that and stay true to it.”
On if he’s comfortable enough in the new offense to be able to make those quick reads and get rid of the ball quickly, and if he’s comfortable enough to be able to read the defense and what’s going to fit-
“Yes, ma’am. I think that’s part of what we watch film for. That’s part of what we come out here and practice for is knowing check downs and knowing, ‘Hey, my first look, if they’re giving it to me, take it.’ I think that’s the best part of playing quarterback in this league, finding completions. I feel confident in myself. I feel like at times last year when I got the ball out on time and got the ball to the right guy, we moved the ball well. I think just trying to start off this season with that mindset. And like I said, stay ahead of the chains and do my part and find the completions and not holding the ball.”
On what it’s been like trying to get to know Stefon Diggs this offseason and how excited he is to get going:
“It’s been awesome to bond with such a high-level player. I think he continues to show as the game week and game day comes closer and closer to how much he’s elevating his game and elevating his practice style. I’m looking forward to going out there with him on Sunday, and I think you’ll see a good energy from Stef, and I’m looking forward to getting him to rock and let him do his thing.”
On Mack Hollins and the energy he brings to the offense:
“Yeah, it’s constant. I think it’s the best thing you see about Matt. He brings it every day. It’s no off days. He’s working extra. He’s drawing up plays and asking me to come to extra walkthroughs and doing things that show up on Sundays and show up in practice. So I think from that, what else would you expect from a Tarheel? So he just brought a great energy to the room. Veteran, does all the right things, blocks in the run game, and I think he’s going to be rewarded with being in there and making plays.”
On the fact Josh [McDaniels] has coached against heavy defenses against Pete Carroll a couple of times and how confident he is having him in his corner:
“Yeah, going back watching the Super Bowl, going back to watching the COVID game with Cam when nobody’s in the stands. I think it’s great having Coach McDaniels who’s played against this defense and knows some extra little tidbits for me to know, whether it’s in the huddle or before on this play. I think it’s great to have a play caller in the corner who’s played against this scheme in the Super Bowl.”
“I studied a lot. I think that’s with a lot of coordinators in this league. He’s played against them and seeing them. I think it’s great to have that in the room and seeing what he’s trying to get on the same page with him as what he’s seeing and try to catch up as much as I can to his level. I’m not going to get there, but try to, just an understanding of, ‘Hey, I think they’re going to do this,’ or, ‘Hey, this is what I think they’re going to be in.’ Then from there, yeah, watching old games, watching Cam Newton, watching Tom [Brady] in the Super Bowl was pretty cool.”
On what he’s learned from his captain, Hunter Henry, about just being a leader for this team and a professional:
“I think Hunter is just a positive energy he brings to the huddle. I think with me balancing that with kind of being stern in the huddle and knowing that, ‘Hey, I got to get these guys going.’ I think just bringing the positive energy. I think Hunter, the thing about Hunter, he’s one of my best friends on the team. He just shows up every day. He loves football. I think that’s kind of what I’m learning from Hunter. He doesn’t do it for anything else, for the love of the game. Whether it’s running a clear-out route or catching a seam ball or blocking the run game, he does it at a sure joy of wanting to win. I think we both share that same mindset of wanting to win.”
On what it was like finiding out he’d been named a captain:
“I think it’s a great honor. I think it means something playing with the ‘C’ on your chest. I think I learned that from Jacoby [Brissett] last year and some of those guys, David Andrews in the past. I think it’s something that you don’t take lightly. It’s a great honor from your teammates in a team vote. I think it’s something that often I feel like the starting quarterback can kind of, I wouldn’t say, necessarily get gifted it, but I think it’s one of those things where I think you go out there and earn it and prove to them ‘I’m a captain.’ That’s my mindset of proving to them of being a leader on this team. I think I’m not taking it as a gift.”
On if he’s concerned about his Tarheels:
“I wouldn’t say yet. I wouldn’t say yet. I think it was tough watching that Monday night. That first drive looked good, but I think I’m counting on those guys and coaches, and I’ll be tuned in all season.”
On the fact that in the past in this offense, not just with McDaniels, but Bill O’Brien, the relationship between the quarterback and the play caller and the offensive coordinator, there was a lot of give and take as far as input on what you guys wanted to do in that game plan, and if he’s at that point yet, or if it’s more of a one-way street with you and Josh:
“Yeah, I think that’s something you build throughout the season. I think it’s something that… I think he values my opinion, especially on the plays. I think he values my opinion, ‘Hey, out of this formation, out of this look, I like this stuff.’ I think it’s something that throughout the season, I think you can say, ‘Hey, what about this play? I remember we ran it back in this week.’ I think it’s something that you can build and build trust.” I think the trust is there. I think it’s just for me of just continue growing and seeing, ‘Hey, let’s do this against this defense’ and continue to find out what things I like. I think for right now, just trusting whenever he’s got in and let him know what I like and give an input here and there. ‘Hey, I like this. I like that.'”
On Pop Douglas and [Kayshon] Boutte and if he’s seen growth from them this offseason:
“Yeah, I think those guys… I was just talking to someone about it on the team last year. The first game I started, I threw a touchdown to each of them, and they both it was their first touchdown with the game ball. So just where we’ve come, I think starting with throwing them in the second group last year. I was in with them. Pop was in the first group, second group some, and Boutte was for sure in the second group when I was in there last year and just building chemistry. And that stuff just continued to continue to grow and grow. And coming into this year in this camp, they brought every day, blocking and running routes and knowing spacing and knowing leverage and man coverage and spacing in-depth and zone. They’ve done a great job of coming in every day and asking and talking to me. That’s always what I ask for feedback.’ Hey, what are you seeing?’ Or, ‘Hey, what are you thinking on this? If the corner or the star does this?’ Just little things like that. I’m just trying to get as much as I can on the same page with them. I think it’s going to show it and show out in practice.”
On how he would describe the dynamics of the quarterback room that Tom [DeVito] joined in:
“No, it was awesome. Obviously, you played well against that preseason game, and it was good to have him in the room, good to have a guy who’s played in games and played in the league, and another young guy. I think it’ll be cool. I think Boston and the North End will like him. I’m not sure if he’s been yet. I need to ask him if he’s been. But no, I think just continue to get good vibes going in the quarterback room and guys that’ve seen stuff. Josh being able to be in a bunch of different offenses and playing in big-time games on short weeks’ notice and coming into teams and seeing everything. They’ve been great with me, supportive, and I think they both throw it well, so it’s good to compete with them, throwing in practice and seeing who’s spinning it better or whatever.”
On his trust level with TreVeyon [Henderson] both as a receiver and as somebody who might be protecting him:
“Yeah, I think protection-wise, I think, you saw it in college. I think it just continued to the NFL, I think he wants to protect me. I think that’s something that they’ve established in the running back room of wanting to be good and pass [protection]. It’s something that jumps off the tape. I think, especially those O’Linemen and the guys, quarterbacks and other guys in the room, really respect a running back when they go up there in the midst of the O-line and give somebody a good pop and give a linebacker a good pop or pass off a game. It’s really impressive. I think in the passing game, just do my best job of continuing to work with him and give him the ball in space and seeing what he’s seeing in zone coverage or option routes or things like that. So I think he’s a weapon. I think my best thing is to give him the ball in space and get the guys that are better running than I am.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript was done based on the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. If you spot anything, please let me know in the comments below.)
From our archive - this week all-time:
April 8 - April 23 (Through 26yrs)
Join 2,000+ fans getting exclusive stats, analysis, and insights delivered straight to their inbox every week. Never miss a play.