The duo connected twice in the Patriots’ first training camp practice on Wednesday.
As Drake Maye dropped back for his first pass of training camp in full team drills, wide receiver Stefon Diggs crossed the field from the quarterback’s right-to-left. Maye hit him in stride for an easy completion.
After signing Diggs to a three-year contract in free agency, it’s a connection the New England Patriots are hoping to see plenty more of moving forward — but one the veteran receiver knows will take time to continue to build.
“They say timing, and all that, but it’s more so just about trust,” Diggs said after practice. “You want to be around a guy that you can trust. He’s a young quarterback. I believe in him and I think he’s going to have a lot of success in this league. Breathing confidence into him is very important when they’re young, and just talking through a lot of this stuff.”
“You know, I’ve been around the league for a while now,” he added. “I’ve got a little bit of experience. Every situation is different. You kind of want to go in with the right mindset: brick by brick. When you’re building with a quarterback, good things going to happen, bad things are going to happen. But, I kind of feel like don’t ride the rollercoaster.”
In order to avoid that rollercoaster, Maye and Diggs’ time together off-the-field will be just as valuable as they continue to build a bond. That’s why during the five week break between minicamp and training camp, Maye held Diggs and a handful of other teammates to Charlotte, North Carolina for throwing sessions and time together on the lake.
“Spending time with a guy, getting to know him outside of football always helps on the football field. So, you can kind of think how he thinks a little bit, see what he sees out there,” Diggs said. “I kind of don’t want to jump the gun at all. It’s just more so day-by-day, meeting-by-meeting, talking through a lot of the stuff.
“You can kind of build as much as you want, but, you’re just getting ready for the bullets to fly. You can’t make any guarantees then. You just want to put yourself in the best situation to have success when it’s time. So, I feel like right now we’re just building.”
The connection on the field early Wednesday was not the duos only one of the day. As the team regrouped for their second competitive full team period, Maye’s first pass yet again went to the veteran receiver — this time down the right sideline.
“Anytime an All-Pro and a player like that, he made some plays out here today, it’s awesome being able to throw to a guy like that,” Maye said. “And even when you feel like he’s not open, he’s going to go make a play for you in tight coverage. He’s a strong receiver, going to make plays.”
Wednesday’s session marked Diggs’ first full team reps in a Patriots uniform after he sat out of such sessions in the spring as he rehabbed his torn ACL. Fully cleared for training camp just shy of nine months removed from injury, Diggs continued to look healthy and explosive as he took an immediate starting role in the offense.
“Everybody said I came back pretty fast, but it was a different journey for me,” Diggs said. “I wanted to get back as fast as I could and I just was super serious about my rehab process. I love football and if you love football you put that time in.”