Jerod Mayo has harsh early assessment of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye

Because it seemed clear the Patriots would take a quarterback with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a lot of debate about who would be the best choice, depending on which of the top prospects fell to them.

Caleb Williams had locked up the No. 1 selection midway through the college football season, so he had been out of contention for quite some time. Who the Patriots would be able to draft solely depended on what the Commanders did with their pick ahead of them, which was nearly confirmed to be a quarterback.

Who the favorites were to land in New England, and Washington became a quarterback carousel in the weeks leading to the draft, mainly between Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye.

Fans and analysts had their minds made up of who they wanted to see suit up with the Patriots long before they made their choice and, for the most part, were pleased to see it be Maye on draft night.

The evaluations of the UNC quarterback were positive, with some believing he was the second-best player behind Williams. Others had concerns regarding his age, inexperience, and footwork, thinking he wouldn't be a starting candidate for the season ahead.

Regardless, the Patriots decided to take the best player on the board when they were on the clock and had long believed in Maye's talent. They continue to feel that way, of course, but Jerod Mayo's first assessment of the quarterback at rookie minicamp was a bit concerning, given the team's desperate need for an improvement under center.

Jerod Mayo has harsh early assessment of Drake Maye at rookie mini camp

No matter what rookie a team drafts, they're never going to come into the league perfect, and for some reporters and fans, that's not easy to accept when it comes to quarterbacks who are drafted high.

It was known that Maye had some things to work on, but what player doesn't? The problem is that Mayo seems to think it's more than just a few things.

"He has a lot to work on. A lot to work on. But I have no doubt that he will put the time in. He was here all night trying to get on the same page as everyone else."

Maybe he's just being overly critical of Maye to the media in hopes of lowering their expectations. Or perhaps he's being truthful, but the lack of context makes most people assume there's something to be worried about regarding the quarterback's talent.

He could simply mean there are a few things he needs to get right over the summer, nothing too difficult or unattainable. But his statement makes it seem like he has much more to work on than expected.

Hopefully, that's not the case, and this is just another example of fans and media blowing things out of proportion. It was only the first real practice for the rookies this summer, and there's plenty of time between now and the start of the regular season for players to improve.

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