With the franchise quarterback in place, the next step in the New England Patriots’ roster construction process was surrounding him with as many weapon as possible. Looking at this year’s training camp, the team appears to have succeeded.
In his third summer, Drake Maye gets to work with a top-tier running back duo, an intriguing group of tight ends, and a wide receiver room that currently stands at seven roster-worthy players deep. Of course, the numbers create some problems that very well can be placed
into the “first world” category: how do you keep all of the receiving talent involved and happy?
For Maye, the answer is simple. You don’t, at least not by trying to spread the wealth in a traditional sense.
“I think the best thing for that is winning,” he explained following Tuesday’s joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts. “Nobody really tries to complain when you win games. Nobody’s really that prideful in this sport about personal stats or achievements when we’re winning games. So, that’s our job as a team, to come together and try to win games. That’s the biggest thing that coach is preaching, and we’re trying to be second voices of him, and knowing ‘Protect the football team’ and doing things the right way.
“But no, I think my job isn’t to try to make everybody happy. I think my job’s to have the offense move up and down the field, and score points.”
In 2025 Maye and company managed to do that for the most part, finishing the regular season ranked second in scoring before a drop-off in the playoffs. In order to avoid a similar outcome this time around, the team decided to make some investments.
Wide receivers Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown were brought in via the free agency and trade markets, respectively, while tight end Eli Raridon was selected in the third round of the draft. Based on the summer so far, all three of them will be actively involved in the offensive operation come fall and winter.
Doubs, Brown and Raridon are able players in their own rights and in some other years could have been the clear top trio in New England. In 2026, however, they are part of a group also featuring the likes of DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism, Hunter Henry, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson — all of them either roster locks or close to it, and realistic candidates to end up playing a high number of snaps this year.
“Our skill position room’s great, and we have a lot of depth and a lot of guys that really want to get in there and make plays,” said Maye. “That’s the best thing about it. It’s competitive in there. You have guys that are making plays all across the board, so it’s my job to get them the ball. They’re better runners than I am, so get them the football and let them do their thing.”
And, to pick up on Maye’s logic, that is what ultimately will bring the happiness. Not him trying to keep count of targets.
