The speculation surrounding the futures of the Patriots coaching staff is ongoing, with conflicting reports suggesting they're safe or all in the hot seat, including head coach Jerod Mayo. There is a lot of debate about what the best move would be for the franchise's future this offseason and whether replacing some coaches this early in Drake Maye's career is a good idea or not, which has become an incredibly sensitive topic after what happened with Mac Jones over the last three years.
The conversation has primarily centered on Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and how keeping or replacing them could ultimately impact the trajectory of the rookie quarterback's career.
There is certainly a lot for owner Robert Kraft to consider when making the decision this offseason, and it might become easier over the final three games. Things seemed to be closing in on what that might be based on his and his son Jonathan's reaction to the offense this past Sunday, and it's possible Maye's recent comments about Van Pelt could determine their decision.
Because the quarterback will be the focus of the team's future and ensuring he is put in the best position possible to succeed, hearing him come to the defense of the play caller could throw a wrench into Kraft's plans.
Drake Maye's complimentary words for Alex Van Pelt might hold more weight than most hope
At a crucial point in the season, mainly after the noticeable frustration from the team's owners, it's noteworthy to hear the believed franchise quarterback speak about his offensive coordinator as complimentary and optimistically as Maye did on Tuesday.
Since his future will be treated with the utmost importance, his support and appreciation for Van Pelt will have to be considered moving forward, which could result in saving his job.
“What he’s done for me this year and what he’s done for my development is huge for me. I credit AVP and T.C. and the quarterback room for helping me prepare every week. Still taking every week — even with our record every week — like it’s a big one for us. I really respect that, and I really appreciate them taking a chance on me along with the rest of the franchise.
A lot of things to look forward to, and I’ve been a big fan of AVP and how he’s handled my approach. This is only our eighth or ninth game together, so we’re still figuring each other out and kind of how he’s calling it and how much input he wants me to help him with. It’s been nice trying to find that, and I think we’re not far from it."
While it's not the most glowing review, it still holds weight, given how important Maye's proper development is for the team's future. If he believes he's the right guy for the job and enjoys working with him, it would be incredibly hard for Kraft to let Van Pelt go and bring in a new person for the quarterback to work with next year.
However, Van Pelt also wasn't the Patriots' first choice for the position, which could be a factor in the eventual decision, too, even more so depending on the play callers who might become available next offseason. That might be relevant if the Giants fire Brian Daboll, as he helped make Bills' Josh Allen into the quarterback he is today.