Chemistry between Patriots' Drake Maye, A.J. Brown already taking shape

Doug Kyed, Boston Herald on Jun 11, 2026

Published in Football

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FOXBORO, Mass. — Drake Maye has only been throwing to A.J. Brown for just over a week, but you wouldn’t know it based on their already impressive connection.

The bond between quarterback and wide receiver was already apparent three days into minicamp.

Brown challenged Maye heading into Thursday’s minicamp practice, the Patriots’ final session before their six-week break until training camp, to be perfect.

“I was just bragging on him, talking him up,” Brown said. “I say, ‘Man, you’re like that. You can make any throw.’ I just want him to be confident. I was kind of pushing him today. I told him, ‘I want you to be perfect today.’ He was like, ‘Let’s be perfect.’ I said, ‘Don’t worry about anybody else, just focus on yourself. You be perfect, you’re going to raise that standard, and everybody else will follow.’ So, just trying to poke at him a little bit, see how far you can go. But he’s a great player, and I’m excited for the season.”

Brown acknowledged that he’s already taken on somewhat of a leadership role on the Patriots. He’s even been leading stretching lines ahead of practice.

That comes with the territory for Brown, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion who will be 29 years old later this month.

Maye said Wednesday it’s hard not to get excited about having Brown in the offense.

“What a player he is, and just right off the bat, what a great teammate so far,” Maye said. “He was eager to learn. He’s great with the guys in the locker room, and we just look forward to playing with a guy of that caliber. I know he’s been a great player in this league. He’s gone everywhere. He’s been a guy that you see on ‘SportsCenter’ the next day, making plays and scoring. The best thing about him, he’s been a winner. He knows what it’s like to win, and he’s someone in that room that we were looking for. I think that’s the best thing.

“I think Stefon Diggs provided it for us last year. Now there have been guys that are growing in their roles, but just coming in with that stature, his ability, his size, and just the respect that you walk in there with, that kind of Stef had, A.J.’s got it, too.”

Maye connected with Brown on one of the plays of minicamp on Thursday. Working in the red zone, Maye tossed a floater into the left corner of the end zone before Brown had even turned his back. Brown made a last-second adjustment for the ball to beat cornerback Kindle Vildor for the touchdown.

Brown said he learned those skills as a baseball player. The All-Pro wide receiver was selected in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Padres out of Starkville (Miss.) High School.

“Drake started on the right side, but he came back to me a little late, and he threw the ball as a back shoulder,” Brown said. “It was a great ball, back shoulder, and I just kind of turned my head. Obviously the DB doesn’t know where the ball is, so, and my background playing baseball in center field, turning over shoulder, looking over the shoulder. It’s a tough catch, and I’m just glad I got my feet down.”

Maye and Brown connected on two touchdowns during Thursday’s practice.

Maye actually hit the turf on the Patriots’ final play of training camp, but before he went down, he connected with Brown in the right corner of the end zone.

The Patriots starting quarterback has made a strong first impression on Brown, who arrived in Foxboro last Tuesday.

“What I learned about him, the talent speaks for itself,” Brown said. “He can make any throw, but I think what’s more impressive to me is that he knows what he’s doing, and to be that young, and to understand the defense, and to understand every little check, the hots, the blitz, and all those things, so young and so fast, it’s very impressive. So, I really admire that he knows what he’s talking about. He demands everybody else to know as well. He’s a true leader of men, and it’s crazy to see at a young age.”

Brown said Thursday that he plans to meet up with Maye at some point in the offseason to work out together. The Patriots begin training camp on July 25 in the field adjacent to the New Balance Athletics Center.

Maye and Brown seemed to make the most of their time together over the last nine days, however, spending extra time throwing after practice.

“What’s important is just building that time, having that time together, building those reps, thinking how you’re thinking, playing, seeing different looks,” Brown said. “And just how he’s throwing the ball, and where I need to be. I’m just trying to be where he wants me to be.”