Drake Maye was introduced to the media as the new quarterback for the Patriots shortly after he was drafted on Thursday.
Here’s the highlights of what he had to say.
Maye’s initial reaction to being drafted by the Patriots:
“I’m stoked. I’m super pumped, you know can’t wait to get up New England, looking so much, so forward to it. And just an awesome moment to be here with my family and friends. One of the best nights of my life and I can’t wait to get up there and get started and get to work.”
Was being drafted by the Patriots a surprise?
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“Yeah, when I heard that phone ring right beside me ... Kind of had the old-school phone right beside me in the draft.
“And once that ring … it went real early, right, right at 10 minutes. Right when the clock, when the Patriots were on the clock, I heard it started ringing and it was kind of one of the moments I’ll remember forever and I’ll cherish it. I think my mom grabbed that phone and took it with her, so we’ll remember that forever.”
Who was with you in Detroit?
“I got my three older brothers. Three of my best friends, my oldest brother, Luke, he plays basketball overseas in Japan, He flew back yesterday and made it into the trip. My two parents, my longtime girlfriend, and 10 of my friends and family came up and just as a surprise yesterday, so awesome night. We got a whole, whole bunch of Patriots fans now. So excited to see that.”
What stood out about the Patriots during the pre-draft process?
“Just not only the history on the wall, but you know, just a model of their work ethic ... the Patriots have been a dynasty. ... One of the best areas, best sports towns. I think it’s the best in the country.
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“I’m so looking forward to getting up there, getting to see it, see Gillette Stadium, and just looking forward to that. Coach [Jerod] Mayo preached he’s such a player’s coach. I can see how all the guys attract to him. And I look forward to playing for him and meeting everybody else.”
On what his conversations with Mayo and Eliot Wolf were like, especially when it comes to the starting QB role:
”I think my first thing is helping anyway I can contribute and prepare and be ready to be the starter, but at the same time you know, as a young guy coming in there, it’s not given to you, you got to earn it.
“The NFL is someplace you got to work your butt off and my job is to go in there and earn the guys’ respect, help whoever is the starter. If I’m not, [then] be the best player [I] can and help the team win.”
Do you know any current Patriots?
“I got to know Jacoby Brissett over the summer. Connor McDermott, I got to meet him at the Super Bowl. And then, you know Gonzo [Christian Gonzalez] a little bit, the DB, and other than that, excited to meet everybody else and can’t wait to get in the locker room.
On how he met Jacoby Brissett and what he thinks of sharing a QB room with him:
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“I met him through Sam Howell, obviously through the Commanders, meet them through mutual friends. You know, they’re great buddies and Sam speaks so highly of him and so got to meet Jacoby and you know looking forward to being in the same room again.”
“He’s been so many different places, so many different offenses. He’s been in this offense before, with [quarterbacks] coach [Alex] Van Pelt, so looking forward to getting to learn from him. I know he’s an old guy, old vet. So I’m looking forward to it, and he can still play.”
On the situation he’s entering in New England, which could be difficult for rookie QBs:
“I think they had that defense last year and had a lot of teams at low points, and I’m looking forward to helping anyway in the offense ... and just looking forward to being there for Coach Mayo’s first year.
On playing for Tom Brady’s former team:
“Tom Brady’s the GOAT. It’s easy to say that, he’s the best that ever played this game. I’m not going to be Tom Brady. So I’m just gonna try to be Drake Maye, and from there, I’m just trying to learn from him. Hopefully get to know him a little bit. And other than that, just try to soak it up and be a sponge and try to learn all I can from him.
Does he feed off outside noise or stay in his lane?
“[I] control what I can control, that’s the biggest thing, all outside noise is part of the media trying to make headlines, and the biggest thing for me to worry about my play on the field and worry about how I am as a teammate in the locker room and a man in the community.”
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What can Patriots fans expect from him?
“A competitor and a winner. That’s the main thing that comes to mind. No matter, from racing you to the door, or on the football field competing. I think I’m competing to win and that’s what Patriots Nation is about.”
Sam Robb O'Hagan can be reached at sam.robbohagan@globe.com. Follow him on X @samrobbohagan and on Instagram @samrobbohagan. Eli Cloutier can be reached at eli.cloutier@globe.com. Follow him @iamelicloutier.