Drake Maye, A.J. Brown sit down with former Patriot Devin McCourty ahead of season opener
New England Patriots
Maye and Brown talked about their growing relationship as they prepare for the defending champion Seahawks.
Drake Maye and A.J. Brown are finally set to show fans the connection that they’ve developed over this offseason.
Neither played a snap of preseason football for the Patriots, but they’ve already made plenty of exciting plays together throughout training camp. Wednesday night will present their first challenge together, and a major one at that. New England will go on the road for a rematch of its Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks back in February.
Maye and the Patriots struggled against Seattle’s defense to end last season, and their passing game never really got going outside of a blip in the fourth quarter.
With the increased weapons at Maye’s disposal and a healthy shoulder, New England is surely hoping things will be different this time around. And if they are, Brown will certainly play a role in it.
Speaking on NBC ahead of Wednesday night’s opener, Brown and Maye talked about their growing relationship with former Patriot captain and Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty.
“It’s been great, he’s made my job a lot easier,” Brown said of Maye. “And he always takes the blame for anything. I’m like, ‘Drake, it’s OK. It’s not your fault.’ But he’s incredible, man. He’s fun to play with.”
Brown was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2025, and Maye finished top-5 in passing yards with a cast of receivers less deep than what he has this season. And New England’s offensive line is a bit more solidified this season as well, though it lacks depth.
Still, all signs point to the Patriots having another great offensive year, even with a tougher schedule in 2026.
“I think it’s important [to have] a player of A.J.’s caliber, who’s had success in the league, to know what it’s like to be on the same page as the quarterback,” Maye said. “Knowing how important that relationship is, not just on the field but off the field. … I think that’s when it comes to life, those meetings with him and the receivers.”
Needless to say, Maye and Brown are eager to get on the field and showcase their connection this season.
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