NFL initiates think that Drake Maye will attract free agents to the patriots

The patriots are in a very different position on the weekend of the Super Bowl in 2025 than expected a year earlier.

Of course, there are similarities in the way each season took place, with the underperforming New England and making a Top 5 draft choice for troubles. But the Super Bowl weekend last year was still fueled by uncertainty. The patriots had just hired a recruit head coach who inherited a team with many holes, and among the largest, no quarter-arre.

This time, it’s different. Mike Truebel, a former year -round coach, is at the helm. And no doubt more importantly, New England has found the future of its franchise under the center.

And, according to the initiate of the NFL, Ian Rapoport, other teams hopelessly hoped that the patriots would exchange and transmit their quarterrière of Bowl Now-Pro. Which, with hindsight, would have been a backbreaker.

“Drake Maye in the NFL has a little mythical reputation,” said Rapoport NBC Sports Boston Podcast “The Next Pats”. “It was the guy that everyone wanted in the draft. It was Caleb [Williams]Jayden Daniels, and everyone wanted Drake Maye. Everyone tried to exchange against him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FFD8L8EJNY

“… he looked good. There were many reasons why this work of the patriots – that I think I will always go to [Mike] TRANBEL – Many reasons why this work was desirable. Drake Maye is at the top of the list. »»

Now that Maye is in Foxborough, Rapoport and its initiate compatriot of the NFL network, Tom Pelisero, agree that the attraction of free agents should not be as much a problem as the last off -season.

Despite the best efforts of Eliot Wolf, New England could not attract the best names like Calvin Ridley to the organization.

“It’s difficult because I know they tried last year, have done a lot of big free agency swings … and I don’t know they were particularly close,” said Rapoport. “No one knew. Nobody wants to go to a team that has no quarter. Now they have a quarter. Are they a big team? No. Probably still in a year.

“Although, as we have learned with the commanders, if you have a guy and you surround him with a very good group of middle -class free agents, you can improve your list quickly.”

Although the presence of Maye alone may not win all the best free agents on the market, the patriots also have the flexibility of the CAP to support their improvement situation with an increase in expenses.

“Realisticly, they probably have to pay too much too much too much, just because people don’t know how far are you?” … But Drake Maye is absolutely an argument of sale, ”said Pelisero. “You have a lot of resources to build this thing, the n ° 1 point of sale they can do is …” We now know what Drake Maye is “. A year ago, people did not know. »»

Will Tee Higgins be available for patriots?

Rapoport has also noted on the podcast that one of the best free agent objectives in New England may not be made available for auction.

Tee Higgins could earn a huge contract this offseason, but the question is whether he will do it with his current team, Bengals or elsewhere. After Higgins recently changed his agent at the same time as his teammate Ja’mar Chase, Rapoport does not think he is particularly likely that Higgins will continue.

“Yes, I think it makes it more likely to stay in Cincinnati,” said Rapoport about Higgins. “I don’t know if Tee Higgins will be free, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it. … If it is free and goes somewhere, for me, the patriots have as good luck as anyone, because they have a guy. But I need to see if it is free first.

However, with or without Higgins on the free market, there will always be many options for the patriots to improve their range through the free agency. And Maye should be a major factor in the decisions of free agents this time.