Latest news with #DrakeMaye
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
One reason for optimism for 2025 Patriots that isn't Drake Maye
One reason for optimism for 2025 Patriots that isn't Drake Maye Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wasserman shared one reason every team in the NFL should be optimistic about the 2025 season. When it comes to the New England Patriots, some might assume it would be second-year quarterback Drake Maye and the offensive line improvements. However, Wasserman took things in a different direction and chose Patriots coach Mike Vrabel's defense. The Patriots had a busy offseason upgrading the unit, starting with the blockbuster addition of Milton Williams, who signed a four-year, $104 million deal. Williams will join a healthy Christian Barmore along the defensive front. New England also addressed cornerback by signing veteran Carlton Davis III to play opposite Christian Gonzalez. Together, Davis and Gonzalez should form one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. The team also revamped its linebacker position with the addition of Robert Spillane. Wasserman wrote: "The Patriots have the makings of a potentially dangerous defense. They handed out a huge contract to former Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams, who led all interior defenders with a 91.7 PFF pass-rush grade last season. New linebacker Robert Spillane placed sixth at his position with an 87.3 PFF run-defense grade. Carlton Davis III could form one of the league's best cornerback duos with Christian Gonzalez. Throw in playmakers such as Christian Barmore, Keion White and Marcus Jones, and the Patriots could have one of the NFL's emerging defenses this season under head coach Mike Vrabel." Defense has historically been a calling card for the Patriots. Even when they struggled during Bill Belichick's final years, they still had a formidable defensive unit to lean on in hard times. The team lacked a defensive identity last season, and now, that appears to be changing under Vrabel. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What to expect from Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson as a rookie
Editor's note: This is the second story in a 10-part series looking at the most intriguing New England Patriots players ahead of training camp. Previously: Efton Chism The Patriots' biggest needs entering the NFL Draft were well known. They needed a left tackle, which they got with No. 4 pick Will Campbell. They also needed a wide receiver, which many around the league assumed they'd take in the second round. Advertisement But the Pats threw a bit of a curveball with the 38th pick. Instead of a wideout for Drake Maye, they went with running back TreVeyon Henderson, even after signing veteran Rhamondre Stevenson to an extension less than one year earlier. Still, the message was clear. The Patriots' decision-makers felt they needed to add juice to an offense that has been the NFL's least explosive the last three years (defined by passes of more than 12 yards and rushes of more than 8). So they went with Henderson, a speedy, big-play back out of Ohio State, even though there wasn't much of a need at the position, even though this year's draft class was rich in running backs and even though the position has been devalued in recent years. So, is the move going to work? Was it wise to grab a back so early? And how much can Henderson help jump-start a sluggish offense? Let's dive in. TreVeyon Henderson has a special reason for wearing No. 32 🫶@patriots | @TreVeyonH4 — NFL (@NFL) June 3, 2025 Henderson grew up just south of Richmond, Va., and began his high school football career focused on defensive back (notching three interceptions as a sophomore). He was good enough there that he had Division I scholarship offers to play defense. But Henderson moved to running back as a junior and broke school records, going for 2,424 rushing yards on 198 carries (12.2 average) and 45 touchdowns in 15 games, all while still playing in the secondary. That made him a five-star prospect and the top-ranked running back recruit in his class. He didn't play as a high school senior due to the pandemic and chose Ohio State over Oklahoma. With the Buckeyes, Henderson set freshman records (1,560 total yards and 19 touchdowns in 13 games) before dealing with a pair of injuries in the ensuing two seasons that kept him out of eight games. Advertisement As Ohio State loaded up its roster last season for an eventual national-title run, coaches approached Henderson to see if he'd be OK with them adding a big-time transfer running back (Quinshon Judkins). Henderson approved the move even though it meant fewer carries for him, but the decreased workload kept him fresh (he averaged a career-best 7.1 yards per carry). Stevenson missed multiple practices this spring while mourning the death of his father. That opened the door for Henderson to get more snaps with the first-team offense. From the first practice, it was clear just how different Henderson is from the rest of the New England backs (and, frankly, the offense as a whole). He has blazing speed (4.43-second 40) and big-play ability, traits Stevenson just doesn't offer (he ran a 4.64-second 40 in 2021). Henderson also spent some time this spring working as a kick returner. As with any running back, Henderson's health will be central to how successful he is in the NFL. As a sophomore in college, he suffered a broken foot, which eventually required surgery and kept him out for five games. The next season, he missed three more games due to an undisclosed injury. He's a bit undersized for a running back (5 feet 10, 202 pounds), which could be a factor in his ability to stay healthy. This season, Henderson's health shouldn't be too much of an issue since he'll split carries with Stevenson. But in the future, he'll need to prove he can stay healthy. Let's start with the obvious. Henderson brings energy to the Patriots offense that it hasn't had in years. He's a home run threat every time he touches the ball. He can make plays as a receiver or beat a linebacker to the corner and bolt for 40 yards. That's a dynamic New England just hasn't had. Advertisement But Henderson isn't just a speed back. His hands are legit (he had 77 catches in college), and he showed that off with some impressive grabs during spring practices. Plus, despite his size, Henderson is a tough and nasty pass blocker who can bully blitzing linebackers, which is an important trait behind what could be a shaky offensive line. We've gone over the injury history. The other potential reason for concern is that it's still unknown how good he can be between the tackles and whether he can be a true bell-cow back instead of just a good third-down back. A great third-down back would help the offense, sure. But you generally don't draft those guys 38th. So, Henderson's development as a runner between the tackles will go a long way toward determining his success. This season, he probably won't have to do a ton of it, particularly if Stevenson gets the majority of the early-down carries. But for this draft pick to be worth it, Henderson needs to improve as a between-the-tackles rusher as he presumably takes on a bigger role in the years to come. This isn't exactly going out on a limb, but Henderson might be the most exciting player for Patriots fans to watch in camp. His pace is unlike anything else the team has on offense, and it's frankly astounding how quickly he gets to top speed. Defenses around the league have done more schematically to take away big passes, including playing with two deep safeties. Offenses like the Patriots' are now betting that an improved running game can take advantage of those schemes, and that a big-play back can make a defense pay if it plays shell coverages. Will it work? We'll see. The New England offensive line is still just OK, which complicates that plan. But if Henderson can find some explosive rushes, that could really open up the play-action game for Maye.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots QB coach gives update on Drake Maye's progress in new offense
Patriots QB coach gives update on Drake Maye's progress in new offense New England Patriots quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant shared an update on second-year quarterback Drake Maye's progress in the new offense. Maye went from Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney to Josh McDaniels and Grant. That's a major shake-up for a second-year quarterback who didn't have a ton of games at the college level. The Patriots have gone to great lengths to ease the process by upgrading the weapons around Maye and improving the offensive line. Things started rocky early in OTAs, but Maye improved later in the spring practices. 'Drake is doing a hell of a job with a change from one offense to a new offense," Grant told media members. "He's been a pro's pro. He's been super intentional with everything we've asked him to do, so I couldn't be happier with where he is right now." Maye finished his rookie campaign with 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That was good enough to earn him a Pro Bowl nod in his first NFL season. There will be added pressure on performance in his second season with all of the additions made to the Patriots' roster. His ability to grasp McDaniels' offense and implement it successfully in game situations will mean the difference between the Patriots finally getting over the hump or suffering another disappointing season. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Efton Chism was the darling of the Patriots' spring. Now, can he make the team?
Editor's note: This is the first story in a 10-part series looking at the most intriguing New England Patriots players ahead of training camp. It's almost a little too on the nose that the Patriots player stealing headlines and turning heads in spring practices is an unheralded, undersized slot receiver from a small school. Advertisement But it's not hyperbole to say that no player did more to improve his standing on the depth chart than Efton Chism. To put it another way, when we came up with the idea for this series in which we'd zoom in on 10 important players ahead of training camp, Chism wasn't even in consideration. Now he's kicking it off. Mike Vrabel praised the 23-year-old as 'a talented player' who is dedicated and 'studied extremely hard.' The head coach noted that it doesn't take long to figure out which receivers quarterbacks trust — 'it's the ones they target,' he said. That clearly means Drake Maye already trusts Chism, given their work together this spring and the 50 catches Maye estimated Chism made. So as the hype train rolls on for the 5-foot-10 receiver, let's look at how Chism got here, what the future might hold and whether this might just be fool's gold in spring sessions that favor receivers. Chism didn't start playing football until eighth grade. Before that, he focused on baseball and basketball. But he quickly took to football. He and his family watched Eastern Washington games, which meant he was frequently watching Cooper Kupp as a kid. His level of comfort with the program is part of the reason he chose to attend college there. Chism broke out as a sophomore, notching 735 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games, while kicking off a streak of 53 straight games with at least one catch, a mark that broke Kupp's FCS record. He's a slick route runner who easily got open against defenders and led all of the FCS in catches last season with 120 in 12 games. Chism's chances of getting drafted were dampened when he ran a 4.71-second 40-yard dash, but he posted elite numbers in the short shuttle and three-cone drill, which speak to his shiftiness. After going undrafted, he had a number of suitors and signed with the Patriots on a deal that guaranteed him $234,000, a massive haul for an undrafted player. A week away from the draft and even in a deeper WR class, really excited to see where @EWUFootball WR Efton Chism lands. Elite short shuttle (4.06) and three cone (6.77) make up for perceived lack of top-end speed. Here's him as compared to Trent Taylor (5th round pick), Jeremy… — Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 18, 2025 From the first practice, it was evident Chism was different. Typically, coaches are slow to elevate rookies. But by the time OTAs were halfway complete, Chism was already getting reps with Maye after starting with the third-team offense. He seems like a perfect fit for Josh McDaniels' scheme, which has always utilized shifty slot receivers. McDaniels' offense seems to make up for Chism's lack of top-end speed by having him find soft spots in the coverage and running a bunch of underneath crossing routes. Advertisement Now, it's worth noting that Vrabel wanted cornerbacks to pull up and not go for 50-50 balls during spring practices, but those practices still couldn't have gone much better for Chism. Even if Chism continues to play well in training camp, he has a long way to go to overtake DeMario Douglas on the depth chart. Douglas is the same kind of player as Chism but has more of a track record (he had 621 yards last season) and a lot more speed (he ran a 4.44-second 40). Given the nature of slot receivers, it's unlikely both Douglas and Chism would ever be on the field at the same time. So even if Chism looks more likely than not to make the team at this point, he's still likely to be stuck behind Douglas on the depth chart. Head coaches typically don't hand out the kind of praise in the spring that Vrabel did for Chism. Same for quarterbacks. That's a sign that Chism is more than just a spring darling who will get overwhelmed when the pads come on. If anything, it might be more impressive that Chism was so quickly making an impact in a McDaniels offense that has historically been difficult for rookie receivers to learn. Another reason for optimism is the lack of other options on the depth chart. We're still a long way from cutdown day, but in this rebuild, it seems like Chism brings more long-term potential than a veteran like Kendrick Bourne. Rookie receivers almost always struggle in the first few practices, but Chism's route running was so precise that he was quickly getting open. That could be an especially important trait if the Patriots offensive line struggles and Maye has to quickly get the ball out. As Vrabel stressed several times, OTAs and minicamp are really just a passing clinic. In that environment, shifty slot receivers should stand out. So with Chism, there are two legit concerns. The first is his speed. While he's great in short areas, you'd still like to have slot receivers with some speed — and Douglas is significantly faster. Julian Edelman ran a 4.52-second 40, which is meaningfully faster than Chism. (Edelman also tested much better than Chism in explosive drills like the broad jump and vertical jump.) Advertisement The other area of concern is Chism's durability. He stayed healthy in college, but the physicality in the NFL is a far cry from what he experienced at the FCS level. One of the ugly truths for undrafted guys is you have to stay healthy in training camp to have a chance, so that'll factor into Chism's odds of making the roster, too. In short, can Chism keep this up? If the 53-man roster were based solely on spring practices, Chism would be on the team. But things ramp up in a big way when the pads come on. Can he provide anything as a run blocker? Can he stay healthy? Does his lack of straight-end speed hurt him? Those are all fair questions and reasons to not just pencil Chism onto the roster. Besides, those spring sessions are tailor-made for a player like him. But at the same time, you couldn't have asked for much more than he provided this spring.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots WR Stefon Diggs shares honest thoughts on Drake Maye
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs shared his first impressions of second-year quarterback Drake Maye when speaking with media members at minicamp. Diggs was signed to a three-year, $69 million contract to serve as a top receiving option for Maye. The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is currently working his way back from a torn ACL, which kept him sidelined from 11-on-11 work during the spring practices. Advertisement However, he has participated in work with lower intensity, and he looks to be well ahead of schedule in his recovery process. He was seen catching passes from Maye at minicamp, which is something fans are hoping to see much more of in the 2025 season. '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 dog. You can tell he's a dog from the get-go," said Diggs. "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." If Maye and Diggs can get on the same page early, it could take the Patriots' offense to new heights. Maye might have his new No. 1 wide receiver, and Diggs would have a chance to bounce back with a talented young quarterback. Advertisement It might finally be the recipe for success in New England. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots WR Stefon Diggs shares honest thoughts on Drake Maye
