NFL insider asks Patriots fans to dial down on Drake Maye anxiety amid fears over rookie QB's reps
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has struggled during training camp so far. The fan base has started to panic as they are worried the third overall draft pick may end up being a 'bust'. However, one NFL reporter is telling fans to refrain from overreacting just yet as he believes there is still plenty to look forward to from the North Carolina product.
Charles Robinson, a Senior NFL reporter for Yahoo, shared his thoughts on the Patriots in a post on X on Monday morning. Robinson said the team's fans need to have some patience and that training camp practice won't be a telltale sign of what will happen when the season kicks off.
"1. Relax with the Drake Maye anxiety. Take a walk and show some patience. Nothing so far in practice or the opener tells you what he’s going to be. 2. Someone in the set of wideouts has to emerge as an eventual No. 1. Right now, rookie Ja’Lynn Polk has as good a shot as anyone, "Charles Robinson wrote on X.
Robinson also believes that Drake Maye's offense needs to step up and help him out. He predicted that rookie wideout Ja'Lynn Polk could end up being Maye's top target heading into the season.
Rob Gronkowski sends message to Patriots regarding QB situation
The Patriots' quarterback room currently consists of Drake Maye, former Tennessee quarterback and 2024 sixth-round pick Joe Milton III, and Bailey Zappe who was drafted in 2022. The team's former tight end, Rob Gronkowski, expressed his opinion on the current QB situation.
On 'First Things First,' Gronkowski said New England needs to trade Zappe, or 'free him.' He believes that would allow him to find a new opportunity and not take away reps and chances for rookies Maye and Milton.
"My hot take is that Bailey Zappe needs to be freed. They gotta either let him go or trade him. He’s taking away reps from Drake Maye and Joe Milton. Bailey Zappe is not going to be on that team by the end of training camp. He needs to be freed so he can go to another team and show what he has,” Gronkowski said.
The four-time Super Bowl champion went on to say that he couldn't give his full opinion on Maye's performance in the first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. New England allowed him just one series, and only six plays in total during the game.