McDaniels is adapting his offense to fit Drake Maye’s preferences.
As Austin Hooper returned to the New England Patriots prior to free agency, he knew what he’d be getting into despite the changes on staff. After spending the 2022 season playing for Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans, Hooper signed with Josh McDaniels and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 season.
Now back in McDaniels’ offense in New England, the offense and terminology is starting to come back to the forefront of the tight end’s mind — along with some specific new wrinkles centered around a certain quarterback.
“[McDaniels is] still very smart. I mean same system. I think he’s incorporated a couple things that Drake [Maye] likes,” Hooper said Tuesday. “Not to get too deep into scheme or anything like that, but willingness to hear what the young gun has.”
A quarterback with Maye’s dual-threat ability is something McDaniels has not had at his disposal often throughout his coaching career. The 2020 season with Cam Newton — which Maye has been watching through the early stages of the voluntary offseason program — perhaps provides a glimpse of what the McDaniels and Maye combination could look like on the field.
Off the field, however, Hooper has seen growth from his young quarterback early in year two.
“When you’re a top pick coming into this league, you’re drinking out of a fire hose,” Hooper said. “So, being able to see him not as eyes wide, learning the business, learning new teammates, learning the pro style system to banking all of those reps. You can tell, just walking around, his shoulders are a little lower. Just more relaxed.”
Working as Hunter Henry’s No. 2 last season, Hooper and Maye developed a strong connection on and off the field. The tight end caught 45 passes for 476 yards — the most since his Pro Bowl season back in 2019.
Returning to play with both Maye and Henry was atop the reasons why Hooper elected to forgo free agency back in May before re-signing with the team on a one-year, $5 million deal with a maximum value of $7 million.
“A tremendous group of teammates, playing with a young talented guy like Drake, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that wasn’t a big part of the equation,” Hooper said. “Also sharing the tight end room with Hunter Henry, a guy who’s the same draft class as me. A guy who we have a very good working relationship together. Once the organization extended me the opportunity, it was pretty simple.”