Report details how Patriots' Josh McDaniels will adapt for Drake Maye

New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski and others associated with the franchise got their wish when it was learned Tuesday that recently hired Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was bringing in longtime New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels back to serve as the club's OC. 

On Tuesday evening, Karen Guregian of MassLive shared how McDaniels could be an excellent fit for quarterback and 2024 first-round draft pick Drake Maye. 

"If the past is any indicator," Guregian wrote, "McDaniels is more likely to adapt his system to Drake, much like he did for Matt Cassel when Tom Brady went down with a season-ending injury (in 2008) and later when Cam Newton took over post-Brady (in 2020). For the mobile Newton, McDaniels developed a quarterback running game — which wasn’t in the Brady playbook — stocked with (run-pass options), zone reads, etc. He’ll do the same for Maye." 

ESPN's Mike Reiss previously noted how former Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt ran "a West Coast offense featuring wide-zone run concepts" this season. While Maye visibly improved working under Van Pelt from last spring through late December, whispers emerged before Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired head coach Jerod Mayo, claiming that Van Pelt could become a "fall guy." Instead, Mayo was shown the door so that Vrabel could take over. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Maye finished his rookie season ranked 18th among qualified players with a 58.6 adjusted QBR. Over 13 games, he tossed 15 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. He also accumulated 421 rushing yards and two scores on the ground over 54 carries. 

Before this past regular season ended, some suggested that Kraft retain both Mayo and Van Pelt so that Maye wouldn't have to learn a new offense for a second straight offseason. Former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer previously had McDaniels as a coach and told Guregian that McDaniels would spend the necessary time throughout spring and summer workouts to ensure that Maye is ready for Week 1. 

"I think that’s a manufactured argument," Hoyer explained. "If (Drake) is what we and they and everybody thinks he is, it won’t be a problem, especially the way Josh will teach it, install it, all of those things."