There will be no contract drama between the Patriots and rookie quarterback Drake Maye this summer.
Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, signed his four-year rookie contract with the Patriots on Tuesday. The deal is worth $36.639 million fully guaranteed with a $23.467 million signing bonus.
He’ll earn a $795,000 salary in 2024, $960,000 salary in 2025, $1.075 million salary in 2026 and a $1.19 million salary in 2027. He’s due roster bonuses of $1,500,444, $3,050,888 and $4,601,332 on the third day of training camp in 2025, 2026 and 2027, respectively. Maye will count $6.66 million against the salary cap in 2024, $8.33 million in 2025, $9.99 million in 2026 and $11.66 million in 2027. The deal also includes a fifth-year option that the Patriots will have to decide on after the 2026 season.
Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf was asked on “Up & Adams” what he learned from errors the team made developing quarterback Mac Jones, who was selected 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“The main thing that we’ve been able to take away is just being able to support not only Drake, but every quarterback we have,” Wolf told Kay Adams. “Just throw every level of support that we possibly can at the quarterbacks. Whether it’s coaching, whether it’s something off the field, whether it’s virtual reality, whatever the case may be. Just really having the willingness to support whoever the quarterback is — in every facet that we possibly can.”
The Patriots traded Jones to the Jaguars this offseason before they could decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option.
Maye is joined by Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe and fellow rookie Joe Milton III on the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart. Wolf was asked on “Up & Adams” who will decide when Maye, who was receiving third-team reps last week at OTAs, is ready to start.
“I think those will be some important conversations for us to have,” Wolf said. “Right now, it’s Jacoby Brissett. He’s taking the first reps, and we’re excited about what he’s shown not only off the field but on the field with his throwing ability. Drake Maye, let’s be honest, we’ve had him for three weeks now. There’s a long way to go to for all of our rookies and all of our players as we adapt to this new scheme that coach (offensive coordinator Alex) Van Pelt is implementing offensively.
“So we’ll have those conversations as they arise. I’m sure it’s gonna be a collaborative approach as it’s been so far with really all the big decisions that we’ve made. All four of the quarterbacks that we have on the roster right now are working hard and ready to go.”
Wolf didn’t give any clues about whether he prefers Maye to start or sit to begin his rookie season.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a specific Eliot Wolf philosophy (on developing quarterbacks),” Wolf said. “I think every person and player is different, so I think you have to be true to what you’re seeing and listen to the coaches and really understand who’s ready, who’s not ready. Again, like I said, in this particular situation Drake’s been with us for about three weeks. So we’ll kind of see how it goes here. Maybe he’ll be ready, maybe he won’t.”
The Patriots released quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was claimed by the Giants, after the draft. Milton is a sixth-round pick out of Tennessee.
The Patriots’ held three OTAs practice sessions last week and will restart the sessions Wednesday at noon. Wednesday’s practice, as well as OTAs on June 4 and 6, will be open to the media, but not fans. The Patriots will hold mandatory minicamp June 11-13, which is also open to the media but not fans.
One joint practice
The Patriots will host the Eagles for one joint practice on Tuesday, Aug. 13, before their preseason game on Thursday, Aug. 15, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday.
The Patriots held joint practices in Green Bay with the Packers last season. They were scheduled to practice with the Titans, as well, but a concussion suffered by then-rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden, which shortened the Patriots’ preseason game against the Packers, led Bill Belichick to cancel them.
The Patriots also have preseason games home against the Panthers on Aug. 8 and in Washington against the Commanders on Aug. 25.
Wolf’s one regret
Wolf didn’t earn his new title until earlier this month, but he was still in the driver’s seat, for the first time, in the 2024 NFL Draft.
He would have liked to have wound up with more than one defensive player in the event.
“My one regret so far from this offseason particularly with the draft – we had eight draft picks and only drafted one defensive player,” Wolf said on “Up & Adams.” “I’ve apologized to coach (defensive coordinator DeMarcus) Covington for that. Obviously, he wanted what’s best for the team, too. That’s one regret I have so far, but we’ll see how it goes. We do feel good about the guys we have.”
The Patriots selected South Carolina cornerback Marcellas Dial in the sixth round. After Maye, they took wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, Penn State offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson, UCF wide receiver Javon Baker, Dial, Milton and Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell.