Jerod Mayo acknowledged that Drake Maye isn’t entering the NFL as a finished product.
During Saturday’s press conference at rookie minicamps, a reporter asked the New England Patriots head coach for his first impressions of the No. 3 overall pick. Mayo delivered a candid assessment while expressing confidence that Maye will make the effort needed to progress in his first summer as a pro.
“Look, he has a lot to work on. A lot to work on,” Mayo said, per the team’s transcript. “But I have no doubt that he will put the time in. You didn’t see him out here yesterday, but he was here all night trying to get on the same page as everyone else.”
Mayo anticipates offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt being the “lead guy” developing the first-year quarterback.
“There has to be balance there,” Mayo said. “You don’t want Drake hearing too many voices.”
With Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels off the board, New England drafted Maye last month. While his touchdown tally dipped from 38 to 24 last season, he averaged 8.5 yards per attempt in his final season with the Tar Heels.
The 21-year-old discussed the time he’s spent learning a new playbook and the responsibilities of an NFL quarterback.
“As the quarterback, you have to know what everybody is doing on the field in the offense. It takes extra time, extra drawing up, extra questions,” Maye told reporters, per Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar. “I’m just trying to get to know it myself, but also get to know the other guys around me. Get them with me.”