Here’s what New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had to say following the team’s first training camp practice on Saturday, July 25th, 2026.
On how he would assess day 1:
“It’s great to be back out here. That’s the first thing. Shout out to the fans. I thought the guys had some energy. We got to clean some things up. I think that’s what camp is for. You kind of, the first couple of days, you kind of get in the swing of going full speed again. And I think you got some run plays now, kind of different than OTAs, but we got some stuff to clean up offensively, I think for sure, but I think we made some plays and we just gotta be consistent and more efficient.”
On the fact Milton Williams took notice that he went to A.J. Brown on the first play of 11-on-11s, didn’t convert, but it must feel good to have a guy like that out there:
“I think I had to. One-on-one over there with Gonzo, I was gonna try to start off the camp with a little bang. But I gotta make a better throw for him. So no, but I think it’s a great comp for them too. All camp CD [Carlton Davis], we got two great corners. We got, Marcus [Jones] inside, got a great secondary. So our receivers and tight ends are getting some great work.”
On how hard it is to turn the page from last year:
“I don’t think it’s— I mean, obviously it stings, but I don’t think it’s very hard because you’re still hungry. I think you’ve got something to chase. And I think that’s one of the best things about experiencing it and, obviously, not getting to where we wanted and finishing off how we wanted, but you experienced it and know what it’s like and know what it takes to get there. And we gotta be even better because our standard from last year, if we just play the same way, we won’t make it there.”
On the fact that his coach was saying that he wants to go, strong sense of urgency to play players that we talked to as well, and how important is that for them to come just get it right from the beginning of camp this year:
“I think just come firing off. We start with week 1. I think that speaks for itself on a rematch. So I think we gotta bring our A-game and it starts in camp. It gives us a great mindset for camp of getting things and getting going early and firing on all cylinders. So we got some tough work, but looking forward to it.”
On the fact it’s his second year in the offense and how that’s affected his comfortability and ability to see things this year that maybe he didn’t see last year?
“I think understanding the little things. I think, going through the installs and understanding like the little details that Coach talks about and knowing them before he kind of tries to reiterate it to us. And one of the biggest things is just seeing plays that we’ve run against certain defenses, over and over again. I think you understand better answers, better place to go with the football, and just better timing. So that’s the nature of it.”
On what he knows about operating faster in the offense, we’ve heard that a lot from the coaches, and what goes into that for him:
“I think get us in the right play first. I think, getting set under center, getting ready to get it in the gun. I think just moving faster. We got a good play that we like against the defense. Just train our guys to be, ‘Hey, once we get down on the football and get set, we’re going.’ I think that’s the best thing of … we kind of did a lot of great things on offense. We had a bunch of statistics that we did a bunch of things high in the league. I think just creating more plays, I think we can even create more plays, snap the ball earlier in the play clock, and get some things going.”
On what he knows about DeAndre Hopkins, and what’s it like seeing him out here helping the wide receivers out:
“I mean, I’m from the South and DeAndre Hopkins went to Clemson, which is 2 hours down the road. So, anybody of that player, that’s kind of my era of watching college football and seeing him in the NFL and having him on my fantasy team. So it’s cool to shake his hand. His hands are twice as big as mine, and just to have him be out here and share some information and just be a kid – I mean, a young adult – and a great player in this league. Legendary player to play at a high level and share some information is awesome.”
On his thoughts on Kayshon [Boutte]’s catch there on the sideline:
“Yeah, I mean, it’s nothing new. I mean, you guys see it every— I mean, all year last year and year before, and he just keeps doing things right. And I’m proud of him for getting in there and jumping in there. And he understands if he’s got something down the sideline and a ball down the field that he’s got a chance it’s coming his way. So, great catch. And I think that was the better start off camp with a little bit of a a deep one, so we were 1 for 1 to start.”
On what some of his biggest takeaways are from having a full season handling protections, and how he wants to continue to grow this season:
“Yeah, I think being on the same page. I think, playing the game a little bit with some of these, safeties or some of these linebackers. [Robert] Spillane likes to move around and try to hop on different sides of the center to try to mess with us. I think that’s good work, good work for us to be on the same page. And the biggest thing is just being loud. I think being loud, being communicative, and the biggest thing for these guys is they hear me and understand the mic point, and let’s go. So these guys have been great and just understanding, I think pressure patterns is another thing of, where they like to bring guys and why the front looks like that. So different things like that.”
On the fact Christian Gonzalez has been open about wanting a new contract, and what it means to him as one of his teammates, the fact that he’s out here and he’s participating, and he’s giving you guys a look, even though he doesn’t have that resolved?
“I think that shows his main focus, and that’s football. He’s the best corner in the league in my opinion. He’s not the big rah-rah guy. He does it his own way, but he does it at the highest level. So I’m glad to be his teammate. [We’re] around the same age, and I tell Will [Campbell] that he’s my rook because he’s – I was a first-round pick, and Will’s the next. But, Gonzo, someone I look up to, even at the same age, I look up to how he does things, how he handles himself, and just his swagger he has in his own way. I think it’s great to see him out here playing around. And I think you saw it in the locker room before. Everybody was wondering, ‘What’s Gonzo gonna do?’, and he’s coming out here and, first play, he’s guarding AJ and man coverage. So that’s the Patriots.”
On the fact he mentioned being loud and communicative and if it’s been easier for him to do that now. Last year Mike [Vrabel] was constantly pushing him to, ‘Go celebrate with your teammates, go talk to this guy, go do that,’ and if that’s become more natural for him:
“It has to. I think for me, I think the biggest thing I kept on saying last year was like, ‘I feel like I need to do something in this league before I start….’ And they kept on pushing me, said, ‘You gotta expect that to happen.’ So I definitely got some more comfort in that area of pushing the guys and thinking I need to do it more and celebrating and be louder and show my personality more. I think the guys will see that naturally. So I think that’s what camp’s for, and you build through it and you kind of get to new levels. And that’s the best thing about spending every day, all day with each other.
On working with a new center, what are the things that are important to him, and how that’s going with Jared [Wilson]:
“Yeah, I mean, the last snap in practice is my fault. I held the cadence a little long, but Jared is, he’s natural there. I think, Garrett [Bradbury], you get to know a center for a year, and you get to know his little things and how he likes things. And if he’s going left and I’m going right, how it works and little under center things and how he understands mic points. But Jared’s smart. He’s real smart. I wanted him to play with me in college. He went to the SEC. I don’t blame him, but I think he’s done a great job of understanding what comes with playing center. And you’ve got to be loud. You’ve got to be, ‘Me and you, it’s our show.’ So I think he’s done a great job and just getting used to little things under center and how he likes to do silent cadence and stuff like that. But he’s got a great feel for the cadence and saw Garrett do it last year, which is a great look for him.”
On if he made any changes to his body, like adding weight or anything, and during the time off, if he and the guys got together to throw or anything like that:
“Yeah, I think I’m … my program is going to say 6’4″, 225, and that’s how we keep it. You guys won’t know if what I gained, if I lose. So I think that’s the best part about having some inside information. I’m just trying to keep my body in the healthiest form. So if you guys think I look like 230, I may be 220. It doesn’t matter. So I know, and our strength staff knows, so that’s what’s important.”
“And then, yeah, we had the guys come to North Carolina again like last year, got on the lake and got some 3 days of work. It was good to have those guys there, and I think it’s huge in the offseason, kind of right before camp, to get guys going, and I feel like we had a good group and some good sessions, and it was fun work. So thank you, guys.”
(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.)
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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.
