Drake Maye finally looks like the guy the New England Patriots were waiting for. The young quarterback has started to settle into life under center for the Patriots, commanding the offense with quiet confidence. And on Wednesday, Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski stopped by the Up and Adams show, and he didn’t just call Maye the strongest quarterback from the 2024 draft class; he also hinted that there’s a way to rattle him.

“I’ve never seen him go to the left. When he’s in the pocket, he’s got great pocket presence. He’s very accurate as well out of the pocket when he rolls to the right–very accurate as well,” he said. “He can see the field better than basically any other quarterback when rolling to the right, and he can put it right on the money. You saw that pass to Stefon Diggs, that deep one as well. There’s another couple of other ones, but he’s never rolled to his left before.” That’s not just an observation; that’s film study from someone who knows what defenses will do with it. Because Rob Gronkowski didn’t stop there.

He explained how to actually use that flaw. “So with me watching, I never seen him roll to his left. So if I’m a team, I would kind of bring more of a pass rush off of the right so he cannot get out, you know when he scrambles to that side and force him to go left and see what he can do,” Rob Gronkowski said. “Cause the way you turn your body, it’s totally different mechanics when you’re rolling out to your left and to your right. So, if I was a team, I would force him to go that way to see what he brings to the table.” Still, Maye’s numbers speak loudly.

Drake Maye is turning heads this season. In five games of his second NFL year, the 23-year-old Patriots quarterback has thrown for 1,261 yards with a 73.9% completion rate, a 107.8 passer rating, and a 63.9 QBR. He’s tallied seven passing touchdowns and just two interceptions, while adding 110 rushing yards and two scores on 27 carries. And that statement got even louder in Week 5.

New England’s 23-20 win over the Bills saw Maye complete 73.3% of his passes for 273 yards with a 101.1 passer rating, showing remarkable poise under pressure. His playmaking and ability to extend plays have been key to the Patriots’ 3-2 start under head coach Mike Vrabel. Once again, he looked calm under pressure, extending plays and finding open targets when it mattered most.

Gronk may have highlighted a potential weakness in Maye’s game, his Achilles heel, but that’s far from the full picture. Rolling to the left could even unlock new strengths. For now, Maye is setting fresh standards and raising expectations within his locker room.

Drake Maye set expectations for the locker room

In the aftermath of the Patriots’ prime-time win over Buffalo, a different kind of buzz hit Foxborough. What once looked like a slow, grinding rebuild suddenly feels ahead of schedule. The city of champions is starting to believe again, and at the center of it all is Drake Maye. The quarterback isn’t just putting up numbers—he’s changing how this team carries itself. And now, everyone around the league is starting to take notice.

But while the outside noise grows louder each week, Maye isn’t getting caught up in it. Instead, he’s approaching success with the calm of a ten-year vet. When asked about the sudden attention and rising expectations, Maye’s response showed a maturity rare for a second-year player. “I wouldn’t say it’s a different standard. It’s just something we’re trying to work towards, building the standard for us as a team,” Maye said. “Making it hard at home to beat us at home and making a tough team that we’re bringing on the road. I think that’s what we’re trying to build our identity, and I wouldn’t say the standard’s changing. We’re just trying to keep building it.” That’s leadership talk, simple, grounded, and team-first.

Clearly, Maye’s not chasing highlight reels; he’s thinking long term. This isn’t about one hot stretch or one big win; it’s about identity. For Patriot Nation, that steady, process-driven mindset feels like a throwback to the old dynasty days.

Now, the real test comes in the Big Easy. New England heads to face the Saints, a defense that just forced five turnovers against Cleveland. So, we’ll see if that same confidence and discipline can travel beyond Highmark Stadium.

That’s not all, see why Drake Maye’s season could be just getting started!