New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has expressed his enthusiasm for quarterback Drake Maye, citing the young quarterback’s “open dialogue” with owner Robert Kraft and president Jonathan Kraft as a major reason for his hiring. Vrabel called Maye a “young, dynamic quarterback” with a “toughness to him” and an impressive skillset.
Vrabel had also interviewed for head coaching jobs in New York and Chicago, but ultimately chose Boston due to the team’s potential. He plans to surround Maye with top talent to help him reach his full potential. The coach emphasized the importance of protecting the quarterback and creating a balanced offense.
Maye, selected third overall in the 2024 draft, had an impressive rookie season, starting 12 games and throwing for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns. With the Patriots holding the fourth pick in the 2025 draft, Vrabel will have ample opportunity to build a roster around Maye. The coach will focus on areas such as pass protection, free agency, and drafting key players to counterbalance opposing teams’ defensive schemes.
Vrabel’s emphasis on protecting the quarterback and creating a sound offense is a response to the Patriots’ struggles in pass blocking win rate over the past two seasons, ranking last in the league.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43401111/mike-vrabel-says-drake-maye-big-reason-took-patriots-job