Here is everything Drake Maye said after getting drafted by Patriots with No. 3 overall pick

With the third overall pick, the New England Patriots selected UNC quarterback Drake Maye. And soon after, he took a moment to speak with reporters. 

Here's everything Maye had to say: 

Q: What is your reaction?

Drake Maye: “I’m stoked. I’m super pumped. Can’t wait to get up to New England, looking so forward to it. Just an awesome moment to be here with my family and friends, one of the best nights of my life. Can’t wait to get up there and get started and get to work.”

Q: When did you know that the Patriots were going to take you or was this a surprise?

Drake Maye: “When I heard that phone ring right beside me. I kinda had the ring-down phone, the old-school phone right beside me at the draft. Once that rang – rang real early, right at 10 minutes. Right when the clock was, ‘Patriots on the clock,’ I heard it started ringing and it was one of the moments I’ll remember forever and I’ll cherish. I think my mom grabbed that phone and took it with her. So we’ll remember that forever.”

Q: Is she the one who picked up the phone?

Drake Maye: “No, she let me pick it up. It was a little tough to hear, but it was great.”

Q: Who’s with you in Detroit?

Drake Maye: “I got my three older brothers, three of my best friends. Even my oldest brother Luke, he plays basketball overseas in Japan. He flew back yesterday and made it in for the trip. My two parents, my longtime girlfriend, 10 of my friends and family came up as a surprise yesterday. Awesome night, can’t wait, I know they’re excited. We got a whole bunch of Patriots fans now. So I’m excited to see that.”

Q: What stood out to you about the Patriots in the pre-draft process?

Drake Maye: “I went up on the 30 visit – not only the history on the wall, but just the motto there, the work ethic, you know, grind it out. The Patriots have been a dynasty and one of the best areas, best sports towns. I think it’s the best in the country. I’m so looking forward to getting up there, getting to see it, getting to see Gillette Stadium and just looking forward to that. That’s what coach Mayo preached. He’s such a players coach, I can see how all the guys attract to him. I look forward to playing for him and meeting everybody else.”

Q: Have you had any conversations with players that are currently on the Patriots and have you heard from them yet tonight?

Drake Maye: “I have. I got to know actually Jacoby Brissett over the summer. Conor McDermott, I got to meet him at the Super Bowl. Who else from the Patriots? Gonzo a little bit, the DB. Other than that, I’m excited to meet everybody else and I can’t wait to get in that locker room. I remember walking through it. They got a basketball hoop in there in the locker room, shooting at that, that’s what I remember. Can’t wait to get up there and meet the rest of the guys and get going.”

Q: On Jacoby Brissett, what are your feelings on being in a quarterback room with him?

Drake Maye: “Awesome. He’s been in so many different places, so many different offenses. I think he’s been in this office before with coach (Alex) Van Pelt. Just looking forward to getting to learn from him. I know he’s an old guy, old vet and can still play. So I’m looking forward to help contribute in anyway. I’m just looking forward to getting to see him and I know he’s the man.”

Q: How did you meet Jacoby Brissett?

Drake Maye: “I met him through Sam, through Sam Howell, back when he was with the Commanders. So I got to meet him through mutual friends. They’re great buddies and Sam speaks so highly of him. So I got to meet Jacoby and looking forward to being in the same room.”

Q: Did you get to meet Alex Van Pelt? Do you look forward to running his offense?

Drake Maye: “Me and coach met first time at the formal interview at the combine. He was asking some questions. Then I went up there for the 30 visit and went through some of the film – outside zone scheme and he likes to throw it around. Just showing some clips and play-action stuff with (Aaron) Rodgers back in the day in Green Bay. I’m looking forward to being in that offense. I know they’ve had a lot success in the past and just look forward to finding my way to best contribute to the Pats Nation.”

Q: There’s a lot of animal NFL analysts who would say that the Patriots’ situation for the rookie quarterback is one of the worst. How do you feel about the situation?

Drake Maye: “I think they’re wrong. The defense last year held a lot of teams to low points. Looking forward to helping anyway offensively and I’m looking forward to being there with coach Mayo in his first year. Congrats to him. I think anybody who’s saying that, hopefully they’ll find out come this season. Just gonna work hard with the guys and prove them wrong.”

Q: What do you think of Tom Brady and following in his footsteps?

Drake Maye: “Tom Brady’s the G.O.A.T. It’s easy to say that. He’s the best to ever play this game. I’m not gonna be Tom Brady. So I’m just gonna try to be Drake Maye. Then from there, I’m just trying to learn from him, hopefully get to know him a little bit. Other than that, just try to soak it up and be a sponge and try to learn all I can from him. He’s the man in that town.”

Q: What did the patriots bring up with you in their combien interview?

Drake Maye: “Just getting to know me was the first thing, asked me some background questions, some family questions. The first time I talked to them was at the combine, because I didn’t do anything, Senior Bowl stuff or any of that. We just discussed my background, questions about my family, about my past two years. They put me up on the board a little bit and watched some tape, some good plays I remember, and some of them are bad. So just wanted to know my thought process and just being honest up there. I remember drawing up play – I think they put against Cover 2 – I drew up a play.”

Q: Mayo said you’re not coming in as the starter. What was that conversation like?

Drake Maye: “Yeah, they asked me in front of a bunch of coaches. I think my first thing is helping any way I can contribute. I’m preparing, be ready to be the starter. But at the same time, I know that as a young guy coming in there, it’s not given to you. You’ve got to earn it. The NFL is a place where you gotta work your butt off. My job is to go in there and earn the guys’ respect, help whoever is the starter If I’m not, be the best player they can and help this team win.”

Q: What would you say is your bread-and-butter play that you feel really comfortable with?

Drake Maye: “I think throwing across the middle. I see it well. I’m a big 6-5 dude, whether it’s a seam shot, big dig, or even corner routes, corner-post. Anything across the middle of the field I feel like I can make a throw, make all the throws, I’m excited. If it’s not there, can go make a play for myself. I think that’s the most looking forward to it and helping kind of expand that game into the NFL”

Q: Are you someone who feeds off the outside noise? Or are you the type who stays in your lane?

Drake Maye: “Just control what I can control. That’s the biggest thing. I think the outside noise is part of the media trying to make headlines. The biggest thing for me is to worry about my play on the field. I worry about how I am as a teammate in the locker room and a man in the community. So that’s what I’m worried about. All the outside noise comes with my play on the field and that’s what I can control.”

Eliot Wolf said he liked your ability to elevate players around you? How do you feel you’re able to do that?

Drake Maye: “No doubt. I think that’s a huge part of being a quarterback. You’re the face of the team. They look to you. My responsibility is to get the guys, get to know them personally, I think that’s the biggest thing, general relationships. That’s what I feed off of, getting to know the guys truly – because we may not be able to handle different guys the same way. One guy, you may be able to get on him a little bit, yell at them, be a little harder on them. Back at North Carolina, some of the receivers, I could do that. Some of the offensive linemen, I was more kind of gentle and friendly and just picking them up. So get to know the guys personally, I think that’s the biggest thing, just be one of the guys. I think I’m coming in there as a top-three pick rookie. I think you just stay humble and worry about my play on the field and then winning games. That’s not why I’m playing the game for. I talk about, I love football, you know? I love winning and I think the biggest thing is, I hate losing. I hate losing anything I do. It doesn’t matter what it is.”

Q: What can Patriot fans expect from you when you get here?

Drake Maye: “A competitor and a winner. I think that’s the main two things that come to mind. It doesn’t matter if I’m racing you out the door or on the football field competing, competing to win. That’s what Patriots Nation’s about. That’s what they know how to do and I’m ready to come in and do that.”

Q: How does it feel to have the draft process behind you?

Drake Maye: “It’s awesome, actually. It’s a long process, straight from the season to working out at the combine, then pro day, then these visits. It was an awesome experience, a lot of learning, a lot of getting to know about the NFL, getting to know about the league and getting to meet different people, a lot of awesome coaches and awesome players. But I’m excited to get to get to rookie mini camp, get to know the fellow Patriots and just ready to get to get to Foxborough.”

Q: What did you learn during interviews that you know you need to address before you take the field?

Drake Maye: “I think the biggest thing is just being myself, don’t change for the NFL, don’t change anybody that’s hating or downplaying me, just be myself, be who I am. I’m not gonna change. You’re getting Drake Maye. It’s who I am. You’re gonna see it day-in, day-out. I may not have as much energy as I may have sitting in those interview room as now – but one of the bets days of my life. Can’t thank Pats Nation enough, front office for trusting me and I promise you won’t regret it. Looking forward to it.”