Mike Vrabel expands on Drake Maye’s ‘unique position’ as Patriots leader

Following the 2025 NFL Draft, New England Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf publicly said that he wanted second-year quarterback Drake Maye to grow as a leader during his first offseason as a full-time starter. 

While speaking with reporters on Monday, first-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel seemed to acknowledge that Maye is still evolving as it pertains to becoming the CEO of New England’s offense. 

“I think it’s a unique position being 22 (years old),” Vrabel said about Maye, as shared by the Patriots’ website. “It’s kind of unique in that sense. So, I think that there is a lot of room to grow. I think there’s a lot of natural leadership qualities. I think I have to encourage him, continue to encourage him and put him in those positions to do that so that the players understand that there’s a different version of all of us. There’s one that’s maybe off the field, there’s one in the meeting room and then there’s a version on the field, which we all have to understand is somewhat different than what it may be off the field.”

Last summer, it was a poorly kept secret that a New England coaching staff that’s no longer employed by the organization wanted to start veteran Jacoby Brissett so Maye could develop as an unused backup throughout his rookie season. Maye ultimately replaced Brissett in the lineup after just five games, and the 2024 first-round draft pick later received praise from teammates for asking to meet with offensive players following what Maye felt was a poor practice. 

This time around, Maye is cemented atop the depth chart ahead of journeyman Joshua Dobbs. Maye is also working to find his voice as a leader as offensive tackle Will Campbell, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams and others get used to life in the NFL as rookies. 

It sounds like Vrabel wants to hear Maye give teammates some tough love before the games begin to matter in September. 

“This is pro football,” Vrabel added during his comments about Maye. “I don’t think everybody’s going to like you. I don’t think that’s something that is possible. We have to do our job. We have to make sure that we’re prepared and that ultimately the players can hold each other accountable to play to our standard, play to our identity and know what to do and perform.”

This is part of the culture shift Vrabel is trying to bring to a franchise that missed the playoffs four times over the past five seasons. Maye is learning a different system while working with new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for the first time, but the signal-caller is also being tasked with realizing when he needs to be a “bad guy” in the locker room during a grueling NFL campaign.