In the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, one of the main talking points surrounding North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye was how he needs to work on his footwork, and he is doing just that with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt this spring, specifically aligning with his left foot up in the shotgun so he can be more in rhythm with the offense. The Patriots have also put the task of calling plays in the huddle on Maye's shoulders this spring.

“More and more, the huddle calls are coming together,” Maye said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “I don't sound like I'm fumbling words in there. I sound like I know what I'm doing. Mixing up a bunch of letters, a bunch of numbers, it's getting that down pat. … It's a good thing I'm a pretty big dude in there [6-foot-4, 223 pounds]. I look guys in the eye, not just looking down, and commanding it, and getting a good break. A good clap. It kind of gets you in a good mood [that] ‘this is going to be a good play.'”

The Patriots have a quarterback room that includes Maye, veteran Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe. Maye might take things into his own hands and prove that he is ready to play in training camp, but the Patriots have the luxury of not rushing him into the lineup if they do not feel he is ready yet.

Drake Maye feels he has progressed well with the Patriots this spring

At the beginning of the spring, Maye was behind Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe, and by the end, he had leapfrogged Zappe in the pecking order for the Patriots. Both Maye and the Patriots coaches have patience with the young quarterback as they gear up for training camp at the end of July.

“I feel like I've made some progress,” Maye said, via Reiss. “At the same time, I have a lot of work to go. I still haven't even been touched out there — I'm a quarterback in a red jersey. It's different taking hits from those guys, some big dudes up front.”

Maye knows it is a different deal when playing in a game and facing real hits and pressure. Still, there seem to be positive signs regarding Maye's progress in spring practices. Head coach Jerod Mayo spoke on the quarterback's progress.

“He's going in the right direction,” Jerod Mayo said, via Reiss. “Now, in saying that, we know there are going to be some down days. That's one thing I've been trying to stress to him, ‘Just keep chipping at that rock, get 10 percent better every day. It's not always going to be great.' He's done a good job.”

It will be interesting to see Maye's progress throughout training camp with the Patriots in the late summer.