Patriots Insider Says Drake Maye 'Looks Like An NFL QB Now' and Latest on Stefon Diggs

The New England Patriots' Drake Maye "looks like an NFL quarterback now" in the eyes of one person with the team as the young passer enters his second season.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter the Pats are excited by what they've seen from Maye. He said that free-agent signing Stefon Diggs has been a beneficial presence as well.

"Now, everything is calm and collected. [Maye] looks composed," Fowler said. "So, they are ready for a Year 2 jump. They feel like they have more around him now. The Patriots have not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. They're hoping rookie Kyle Williams, who's been really impressive, can hit it off with Maye. They're hoping he can make a jump. Stefon Diggs, still coming back from that ACL but he was a positive influence this spring for sure."

Maye arguably exceeded expectations as a rookie. He threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 appearances, and he ranked 17th in QBR (58.6) at ESPN.com.

Giving the 22-year-old a stronger foundation was clearly a priority for New England. Beyond signing Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract, the Pats used their first four draft picks on offensive players. Will Campbell and Jared Wilson bolstered the offensive line. TreVeyon Henderson will split carries with running back Rhamondre Stevenson. And Williams added to the receiving corps.

The way in which Mac Jones plateaued as a rookie might leave some Patriots fans more cautiously optimistic when it comes to Maye. It was all downhill for Jones after he was a Pro Bowler straight out of the gate.

That's why the upgrades to the skill positions and O-line could go a long way toward putting Maye on a different trajectory. The early signs are certainly encouraging.