The New England Patriots had twenty years of the highest success under the command of Tom Brady. Brady’s story is known around the globe, and his story is one of perseverance and determination. The former New England quarterback was never a great athlete, so how could he become the greatest player of all time? His arm talent and drive to succeed, was unmatched, which led hime to seven Super Bowl titles. He had that X factor that many teams wish their quarterback had. No matter what was going on in a game, no matter how many points the Patriots were down, Tom Brady was never out of the fight. As soon as the camera panned over to Brady sitting by himself on the sideline, talking to nobody, everybody in the country knew what was about to happen. The killer that was Tom Brady, was about to be unleashed.
Year after year, rookie quarterbacks struggle in the NFL. The legacy of Tom Brady will never be recreated, and it is a mystery how the greatest quarterback of all time, sustained success for over twenty years. Now that the Patriots are looking for their next franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, how could Brady’s career have an impact on their strategy? Whether it is Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, that end up being the Patriots pick at third overall, the scouting staff should pay close attention to the film of each player. When Maye or Daniels get down in a game, and all seems lost, how do they respond? Do they quit, and turn on their teammates? Or do they rise to the challenge, and show the same aggressive instinct that Brady once had?
If Drake Maye shows the New England staff that he has a thirst to prove himself to the world, and has the shoulders to carry a struggling organization, he may be exactly what is needed in Foxborough. All of the top three quarterbacks have plenty of talent, but what sets them apart from each other? By doing a deep dive on each player’s film, the scouting staff will be able to see how adversity affects each player. They will also see which player has the type of ice in his veins that Brady did. The ability to stay calm, cool, and collected when your back is against the wall, and it seems like the whole world is against you. A player that can rally a team, and get his teammates to fight for him on every snap of the ball, is exactly what New England should be looking for in their future face of the franchise.
How will the Patriots factor Drake Maye’s win percentage into their decision?
The North Carolina team struggled in 2023, and some teams are worried about this when it comes to quarterback Drake Maye. Having a quarterback in the NFL that can lift a team around him to success, is becoming more and more valuable. So if a quarterback’s team in college doesn’t perform well, it may scare some NFL organizations away. However, with the talent that Maye has, and his ability to create plays, is something that can’t be overlooked. Not to mention, North Carolina had an underwhelming offensive line, and a lack of weapons for Maye to throw to. If the Patriots hope to get the best out of Maye, they should do everything in their power to surround him with talented playmakers, and a good offensive line. This could be exactly what leads New England to the promise land. Especially if they find that Maye has a similar mindset, and thirst to prove himself, that Tom Brady had for over twenty years.