The life of an NFL rookie is never easy. Rookies are always competing for a starting spot against the likes of seasoned veterans, having to adjust from college to the NFL and – if they’re later-round draft picks or free agent signs – fighting for even a look at the depth chart.
Take former UNC star quarterback Drake Maye for instance. Maye’s life is significantly easier than most rookies, as the New England Patriots took him third overall in this year’s NFL Draft, but Maye is battling – with proven veteran Jacoby Brissett – to start his first year in professional football.
Even though Maye is new to the NFL, he’s already building chemistry with his teammates. That includes a fellow rookie teammate in Javon Baker, the former Alabama and UCF wide reciever.
“It’s way better,” Baker told Sports Illustrated’s Jared Koch of his chemistry with Me. “Me and Drake [Maye] got a lot to learn. We’ve just got to keep stacking days. Just the whole team, honestly. We’ve just got to keep stacking days. We’ll be alright.”
Maye put together quite the career at North Carolina. He was named ACC Rookie and Player of the Year in 2022, in the Heisman Trophy conversation each season and – at one point last season – had the Tar Heels ranked 10th in the nation.
Due to a defensive coordinator past his prime in Gene Chizik, UNC faltered to end each of Maye’s two season as a starting quarterback.
Now, as a professional football player in arguably the greatest football franchise of the 2000s, Maye’s goal is to help his New England teammates to more championships.
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