Patriots Rumors: Jerod Mayo's Regime Felt Legacy Was on the Line with Drake Maye Pick

The New England Patriots were reportedly very aware of the gravity surrounding their first-round pick.

Mike Reiss of ESPN reported there was a feeling in the Patriots building that there were "legacies" tied to their decision on who to take as their next franchise quarterback. The new regime settled on North Carolina's Drake Maye after USC's Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) and LSU's Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) were taken with the first two picks.

The B/R Scouting Department graded Maye as the best quarterback in the 2024 class, ranking him as the No. 3 prospect.

"Yeah, a competitor and a winner. That's the main thing that comes to mind," Maye told reporters when asked what Patriots fans should expect. "Doesn't matter if I'm racing you out the door, or on the football field competing. I think I'm competing to win. And that's what Patriots Nation is about, that's what they know how to do, and I'm ready to come in and do that."

Maye is the first Patriots draft pick not to be hand-selected by Bill Belichick since 1999. The Patriots parted ways with their longtime coach and de facto general manager after the 2023 season.

Belichick exited New England as unquestionably the greatest coach in NFL history but with a talent cupboard left barren by years of poor draft decisions. Critics of the Maye selection noted the North Carolina product will join a team bereft of skill-position talent, making it one of the worst situations for a rookie quarterback in football.

It will be up to new coach Jerod Mayo to put Maye in a position to succeed—even if that means keeping him on the sidelines for most of 2024.