Since Tom Brady chose to leave New England after the 2019 season, the Patriots have struggled to find the right players for the roster to make them a competitive team again. For a few years, it didn't matter that they were no longer atop the NFL because Bill Belichick was still the coach, and that was enough reason for many players to sign on the dotted line.
However, as the years passed and the losses continued to pile up, Belichick's known reluctance to sign big checks for the necessary players became much more challenging to get the talent they needed in the door.
That was incredibly apparent during the 2024 offseason, the first year post-Belichick with Jerod Mayo as his successor. Despite having some of the most cap space to use in free agency, the Patriots couldn't convince the players they needed to come to the team, resulting in an underwhelming offseason that led to an unbearable season.
It's partly why Robert Kraft chose to move on from Mayo after just one season and bring in Mike Vrabel to hopefully turn the team around. The former Titans head coach is not unwilling to spend money, which is why they made a big splash in free agency last week. And interestingly enough, Vrabel isn't the only reason many of those players wanted to come to New England.
Drake Maye's presence as the Patriots quarterback is already intriguing free agents to sign with the team
We learned a lot about the first batch of players the Patriots signed last week when they met with reporters, some of whom mentioned quarterback Drake Maye as a reason the team piqued their interest.
That was a big part of what receiver Mack Hollins had to say about reuniting with Josh McDaniels in Foxboro, saying all the right things about getting to work with Maye for the next two seasons. That made it clear the young quarterback is already making a positive impact on the team as they go through the hardships of a longtime rebuild.
“I think as a young player confidence is hard to get. But him being able to have confidence in his game that early is great to see. It’s not easy to walk into a league where you’ve got some guys who are 40, you got some guys that are 20. It’s such a range and to be able to have confidence walking into a room like that, it’s not easy to do.
To be able to see glimpses of it when I was able to watch [him], it was great.”
Hollins might not be the game-changing receiver that Patriots fans have longed for this offseason, but hearing his impression of Maye and his excitement to work with him speaks volumes for a team that has been without a solid quarterback for the past five years.
There was a lot of hope that despite his limited starts as a rookie and a record that didn't reflect his talent nor potential would be enough to bring in the caliber of players the Patriots need this offseason, and it's apparent that is the case with some of the guys signed last week.
Considering the talent they still need to surround Maye on offense, there is some optimism that he will continue to intrigue players looking for a new team, especially since there is still a big need at wide receiver and tackle.
Regardless, it's a great sign that new players are already mentioning Maye as a reason they felt good about coming to the Patriots and could be the underlying factor for years to come.