C.J. Stroud Reveals Advice to Drake Maye After Patriots QB's 1st Career NFL Start

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud revealed his message to New England Patriots rookie signal-caller Drake Maye on Sunday.

"Yeah, I gave him a little word, you know, tried to give him a little word of encouragement," Stroud said after the Texans' 41-21 win over the Patriots, per Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. "I thought he played really solid, you know. Definitely feel like he'll get better and better as he keeps going."

Maye wasn't perfect in the first NFL start of his career, but he still showed why the Patriots selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

The 22-year-old finished 20-of-33 for 243 yards and three touchdowns, adding another 38 yards on five rush attempts. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked four times, losing a fumble in the third quarter.

It wasn't realistic to expect a flawless performance from Maye, as he was facing off against a Texans defense that ranks No. 5 in sacks this season and took down opposing quarterbacks 15 times in five games entering the contest.

Stroud knows how to put together a strong inaugural season in the NFL, winning the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year award and leading Houston to an appearance in the divisional round of the playoffs.

He's praised Maye in the past, calling him the most "NFL-ready" quarterback prospect during the draft in April.

Stroud completed 64.5 percent of his throws against New England on Sunday, recording 192 passing yards and three touchdowns to go along with an interception. He's helped the Texans start the year with a 5-1 record, good enough for the top spot in the AFC South.

Maye should be able to get into a rhythm in the pocket during his second start, as the Patriots are set to face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7. The Jaguars are allowing 276.7 passing yards per game this season, the worst mark in the league.