From the second the Patriots drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to become their next franchise quarterback, pressure was immediately on the young player's shoulders, and expectations for what the team could accomplish skyrocketed.
It wasn't just confidence in what Maye could do at the position or the opportunity he was walking into, but because the Patriots had fallen to the bottom of the league after Tom Brady left for the Bucs four years earlier, so the longing from fans to see good football again was almost too much to bear.
The fact that Maye then went on to impress as a rookie, despite not winning many games, only heightened the excitement about the future, and he made that even more apparent by leading the team to the Super Bowl in Year 2.
And although they didn't win the game, it made him a household name, a status cemented by his runner-up finish in the MVP race.
Going into his third season now, there are going to be a lot of eyes watching how he performs and whether he can handle the weight of the franchise. That also comes from New England fans, who expect success, and that's a big reason why legendary quarterback Drew Bledsoe sent a warning ahead of the 2026 season.
It's something all Patriots fans need to hear, too.
Drew Bledsoe had a lot to say about Drake Maye ahead of the Patriots' upcoming season
During a recent appearance on Up & Adams, the retired quarterback spoke highly of Maye and his potential as the face of the Patriots moving forward.
At the same time, however, he sent a warning to fans to temper their expectations and bring down the pressure on the 24-year-old, who is set to deal with immense pressure that most players in his position don't deal with this early in their career.
Given that Bledsoe experienced it himself, he understands what it feels like better than anyone and had to send a message to the fans about it.
Drew Bledsoe with a warning to Drake Maye 👀@DrakeMaye2 | @DrewBledsoe | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/zNmNySsuRw
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 10, 2026
Maybe this isn't something fans want to hear, or what Bledsoe has to say won't change their mind. But it holds a lot of weight given how passionate New England fans can be about the team, and it's not always fair to hold every player to such a high standard, especially since a good amount of fans then get disrespectful when they don't deliver on those expectations.
That's essentially what Bledsoe is cautioning them about, and it's completely fair given how much Maye will be carrying on his shoulders.
Sure, he brought it upon himself since he has proven to be a legitimate and talented quarterback, but he is also going to make mistakes and even lose games, so properly preparing for the inevitable is good advice from Bledsoe to share.
Whether the fans who need to hear that most will actually follow through with his suggestion is difficult to say, but everyone else should exercise it this upcoming season and be more aware of just how good the Patriots have it with Maye, and that will remain the case for a long time.
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