“Going to be what he makes of it”: Tom Brady highlights rookie Drake Maye's opportunity to grab franchise QB role with Patriots
No one knows better what it's like to be a rookie quarterback with the New England Patriots without a clear starting path than Tom Brady. It's an experience he lived and one that currently faces third-overall draft pick Drake Maye. Brady spoke about that experience and his opinion of Maye.
The retired quarterback said to Yahoo Sports (7:54):
"I’m very fortunate to be around him, and I like him a lot. I’ve heard great things about him. But his opportunity is really going to be what he makes of it, and how he wants to develop it."
Brady likes the newest Patriots quarterback, but he knows there are a lot of obstacles to becoming a starting NFL quarterback. He added that when a player is young like Maye (who will barely be 22 by Week 1), the people around them are important:
"I was so fortunate, I look at my career, I was looking at other competitors like Peyton Manning, Steve McNair, Vinny Testaverde was playing for the Jets, Brett Favre was playing. I was looking around at quarterbacks who were unbelievable, and I had coaches who were unbelievable."
That made the difference for Brady, and he believes it could make an impact on Drake Maye as well. Maye has an uphill battle to starting, which Brady did not do when he first came into the league.
Drake Maye opens up on training camp growth
Drake Maye has a lot of developing to do as one of the youngest quarterbacks in the NFL. The New England Patriots are watching him do just that during training camp.
Via ESPN, the QB said he feels like he's making significant progress:
"More and more, the huddle calls are coming together. I don't sound like I'm fumbling words in there. I sound like I know what I'm doing. Mixing up a bunch of letters, a bunch of numbers, it's getting that down pat."
He added that it's advantageous to be a person of his size at 6'4". That allows him to perfectly look his teammates in the eye while in the huddle and get everyone in the mindset that whatever play is called is going to be a good one.