Drake Maye didn't need much time to prove that he was the right guy to lead the New England Patriots back to the mountaintop. The former No. 3 pick took the team to the Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter.
Some will talk tirelessly about the schedule and whatnot, but Maye made big play after big play last season. He completed over 70 percent of his passes for over 4,000 yards, took good care of the football, and showed elite poise and pocket presence more often than not.
That's why, as much as the naysayers may not want to admit it, giving him a weapon of A.J. Brown's caliber cannot only speed up his journey to superstardom but also turn Josh McDaniels' offense into a must-watch unit. At least, that's how team legend Rob Gronkowski feels.
Rob Gronkowski believes Drake Maye and A.J. Brown can be similar to him and Tom Brady
"I think Drake Maye's gonna develop more as a player because he's never really had a guy the size of A.J. Brown and with the skill set, so let's see where Drake Maye can place the ball this year when A.J. Brown is covered to where only A.J. Brown can go up and make the play and use his skill set to make that play," Gronk told Sports Illustrated.
The legendary tight end even took things a bit further. While he didn't think Brown and Maye could win as many Super Bowls as he and Tom Brady did, he firmly believes they could have a similar dynamic if the young quarterback figures out how to get the ball to where only Brown can make a play:
"So, this could take Drake Maye to a whole another level, and that's what I'm excited about. And if he can do that, it's like Tom (Brady) throwing me open when I'm covered but I got to use my body and Tom placing it to only where I can make the play. Can Drake do that with A.J. Brown? If so, it's gonna elevate this offense to a whole another level," he added.
Maye's ball placement and ability to hit receivers in stride were impressive last season. He's clearly ahead of schedule after looking so raw when he first entered the league, and having Brown by his side will only make life easier for him.
He doesn't need to put it in Brown's hands for him to make a play. He's bigger, stronger, and more physical than the average defensive back, and his reliable hands, athleticism, and insane catch radius help him dominate in contested-catch situations.
Of course, that doesn't mean Maye should just force-feed him the ball in every dropback, as much as Brown would love that. Then again, Brown's ability to make adjustments mid-air and mid-route gives him an edge over most defensive backs, and that's where Maye can be more effective.
For too long, Brady and Gronk kept opposing defenses in a chokehold. Gronk often went off-script, but his chemistry with his quarterback and Brady's confidence in Gronk's ability to make a play helped them become one of the most dominant duos of all time.
Expecting that from Maye and Brown is certainly a lot, and it's probably wishful thinking. Still, who's to say they can't at least come close to what they did? If they can do half of it, it'd still be a massive success.
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