Being set up to fail is the worst thing that can happen to anybody in professional sports, or any profession for that matter. It's safe to say that happened to Drake Maye during his rookie year with the Patriots. Despite a less-than-stellar roster around him, Maye had a solid rookie campaign, setting the table for what hopefully is a great generation of football in New England.
The Patriots' offseason was dedicated to surrounding Maye with the help needed to ensure not only his success, but also that the team would climb out of the AFC East basement. While the bulk of free agency money was spent reviving the defense, drawing Stefon Diggs to come to Foxborough on a three-year contract, and Eliot Wolf still has time to add to the roster.
Not only will the presence of a top receiver in Diggs aid Maye, but New England also addressed its woeful offensive line by drafting left tackle Will Campbell and signing free agents Milton Moses and Garrett Bradbury. All three of those guys are projected to start.
Those additions alone have set up Maye to be the franchise quarterback the Patriots want him to be. Diggs' downfield presence will open things up for other receivers, while the rebuilt offensive line won't have Maye running for his life and getting rid of the ball too quickly, as was the case last season.
Can Drake Maye's numbers be better than those of his rookie year?
Not only does Maye have a better offensive line and a deep threat in Diggs to work with, but the Patriots' running back room is better thanks to the drafting of TreVeyon Henderson in the second round. That puts less pressure on Rhamondre Stevenson to be perfect, and the veteran running back is due for a bounce-back season.
Maye's numbers as a rookie (15 touchdown passes, two rushing TDs, 2,276 yards passing, 421 yards rushing) weren't spectacular but were eye-popping in the context of the Patriots' lack of weapons, and Stevenson's inconsistencies and fumbling issues.
There are no excuses for Maye thanks to the talent surrounding him and the veteran coaching of Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels. Maye's numbers from last year have league experts being modest at best when it comes to Maye's expectations for his sophomore campaign, but maybe that's not a bad thing. But if that takes some of the pressure off Maye and allows him to play and shine, then so be it.
If anything, a restructured group up front will give Maye more time to throw and perhaps the freedom for McDaniels to call more designed runs for the quarterback. Maye averaged 7.8 yards per carry last season, with a bulk of that coming from escaping rushing linebackers and defensive tackles. Imagine what Maye can do with his legs with the combination of a decent offensive line and a brilliant offensive mind in McDaniels.