Notes and thoughts on Stefon Diggs and Drake Maye, the Patriots’ analytics department, and more.
The New England Patriots are off until training camp, which brings the true quiet portion of the NFL offseason. As for our offseason, however, the focus shifts to minicamp wrap up and player profiles.
For everything else, let’s clean out the notebook. Welcome to the latest edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
The dawg
Before signing with the New England Patriots, wide receiver Stefon Diggs did his research on quarterback Drake Maye. The returns were positive.
“It’s crazy because when you ask around, he has a lot of similarities — well, people say through the grapevine he acts a lot like Josh [Allen]. And you know, that was my guy,” Diggs said during his Patriots introductory press conference.
“We played [Maye] last year. He shows a lot of fight. He got that fiery quarterback. I want to win myself so that’s something I get excited about and love to be around.”
Fast forward three months later throughout the Patriots offseason program, Diggs has remained impressed with the 22-year old through their limited work together.
“I like [Maye]. I can’t say too much because I haven’t been out there much, but as far as like personality-wise, he a dawg. You can tell he’s a dawg from the get-go,” Diggs said at the conclusion of minicamp. “I can see he’s committed to the process. He wants to play well. I know he’s been here all spring. … He’s been real helpful, too.”
The adjustment to working with Maye may come easier to Diggs due to his time spent with Josh Allen; as Diggs noted a common comparison to Maye due to their dual threat playmaking ability.
But that won’t be the only advantage Diggs has from his time in Buffalo. The 32-year old comes to Foxboro already with a leg up on learning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ playbook after playing in a similar offense in 2020-21 under then-Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who previously held a role on McDaniels’ Patriots staff.
“100 percent. A lot of similarities,” Diggs said. “The intricacies of it is definitely a little different. They might call something different or have a different name. I always say these are the same routes I’ve been running.”
Throughout the spring, Diggs remained limited as he continues his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last October. The 32-year old strictly participated in positional drills and would run routes on the adjacent field when work shifted into more competitive team periods.
“I’m as engaged as I can be,” Diggs said. “I can’t run a route, but I can take mental reps. I can have those conversations on what I’m thinking about. If I’ve got a question about a route, if I don’t know the play, I want to hear it. You know, just hearing it as much as I can, I think it would be good for me and spending a lot of time here.
“That’s why I look forward to training camp. You know, training camp is when you put the pedal to the metal. But I’m going to do a lot, a lot of homework prior to getting there.”
When he officially is cleared to go, New England is hoping Diggs can become a No. 1 receiver for Maye after he was still on pace for another 1,000-yard season last year prior to his injury.
It’s a status Diggs still believes he can reach.
“100 percent,” he said after a smile.
Physicality
Due to the nature of non-padded spring practices, life in the trenches has it’s advantages for both the offensive and defensive lines. As the practices are mostly passing camps, defensive line have the green light to tee off in their rushes. But, pass rushers are rather limited in their plan as power moves are not allowed.
That has left Milton Williams looking extra forward to the summer when the pads are strapped on and the restrictions are pulled.
“I’m ready to use some of this physicality. We’ve got to rush and then stop. We’ve got to let the quarterback throw the ball. I’ll come around and be ready for sure,” Williams said. “Training camp, we’ll be able to show what we can really do.”
Analytics additions
Spending a year with the Cleveland Browns last season, Mike Vrabel got a first-hand look at one of the league’s best analytical organizations. Perhaps that has sparked several additions to the Patriots analytics department since Vrabel’s hiring.
Most recently, New England hired Max Mulitz who will serve as the team’s personnel analytics coordinator. A graduate of Brown University, Mulitz was previously with the Miami Dolphins since 2018 serving as their director of coaching analytics, football analyst, and manager of coaching analytics throughout his tenure.
Mulitz will join recent addition director of coaching analytics Ekene Olekanma on staff.
“We want to use technology to the best of our ability and what we can do to help us be more efficient, to help us make better decisions, informed decisions,” Vrabel said this offseason. “I don’t think you can rely and base every decision off the numbers, but I also think that those are important to ask questions and then be able to follow up and come to a sound decision on everything that we do.
“Personnel, coaching decisions, player health and safety, strength and conditioning, every aspect of our program. Hopefully, we’ll have some analytical background and data that we can rely on that they can ask questions. When you look at coaching, self-scout, and opponent breakdown, how we become more efficient with that system.”
Rookie trip
As the Patriots’ rookie class remains in Foxboro to conclude orientation, the group has spent plenty of time together outside the building. After an earlier trip to Fenway, this past week the group take a trip to the Boston Celtics Auerbach Center and host a skills and drills clinic for children in Boston.
“This rookie rookie group is really close. We do a lot of things together,” TreyVeyon Henderson said.
High remarks
New England’s entire offseason drew a positive consensus around the league. One AFC Scout highland their moves in ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler’s recent favorite 2025 offseason moves article.
“I didn’t love their [2024] draft, but I thought they did great this year. Kyle Williams has a chance to be a real player. They haven’t had an impact receiver there in a while. A lot of teams loved (running back) TreVeyon Henderson. And we were really high on [No. 4 pick] Will Campbell. I don’t think they are that far away.” — AFC scout.
Williams’ mindset
As for Williams, the rookie receiver had an overall strong spring which was highlighted by a pair of deep connections with backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs. He did, however, see a pair of passes batted incomplete at the catch point in the team’s final minicamp session.
Moving forward, Williams is taking a specific thought when the ball is headed his way.
“My mindset is don’t drop the money,” Williams said during a youth football clinic, per WEEI’s Meghan Ottolini. “Every time the ball is there, that’s a bag of money, we can’t let that hit the floor because [then] that’s somebody else’s. So, just being able to make those plays, showing I can compete against those top-tier guys in the league.”
Setting up the week ahead
Things are expected to remain on the quieter side with the Patriots’ offseason program in the books The rookies will still get some work in, though, and there might be news about free agency workouts and staff hires. So, make sure to still stay tuned.