FOXBORO — Drake Maye isn’t there yet. He knows he still has a long, long way to go in his transition from college football to the Patriots.

But after New England wrapped up its spring practice schedule Wednesday, the highly touted rookie quarterback said he’s pleased with the improvements he’s made thus far.

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“I’ve made some progress. I feel like I have,” Maye said. “At the same time, I think I’ve got 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. But I’m looking forward to see what we’ve got, and I think the closer and closer we get to the season, the more it’ll feel like these bullets are flying.”

Maye’s primary objective since the Patriots selected him third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft has been digesting coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s offense, which differs in both terminology and mechanics from the scheme he ran at North Carolina.

He’s had to learn a new style of footwork — Van Pelt wants his QBs to line up with their left foot forward in shotgun, not the right — and a litany of unfamiliar play calls.

“I think just rep by rep, (I’m getting) the concepts offensively,” Maye said. “We’re timing up the footwork with it the more reps you get. Sometimes it’s hard — you learn an install each day, sometimes you’re doing one or two reps for each play. As we got into minicamp and more days, doing the plays over and over, I got a good grasp of it.

“I picked it up well, and I’m just trying to translate that to the field. It’s a lot easier drawing it up than executing.”

Even the simple process of calling plays in the huddle has been an adjustment for the 21-year-old, as he only did so in certain red-zone situations in college.

“I think more and more, the huddle calls are coming together,” Maye said. “I don’t sound like I’m fumbling words in there where I’m telling those guys. I sound like I know what I’m doing, that’s the biggest thing.”

Though he’s still firmly behind veteran Jacoby Brissett in the Patriots’ QB hierarchy, Maye finished the spring strongly, performing well in both mandatory minicamp practices. He closed out Wednesday’s with three red-zone touchdowns, including one to fellow draft pick Ja’Lynn Polk on the final rep of practice.

The Patriots’ veterans now are off until training camp begins in late July. But it’s not quite summer vacation time for Maye and the rest of New England’s rookie class.

“We’ll be here,” Maye said. “We’ll be here for the next two weeks just lifting, working out, conditioning. I’m sure I’ll throw with the receivers that are here, the rookies. We’ve got to stay. The vets are free to go. That’s how it is.

“From there, just go home. It’s the first real break I’ve had in a long process. So do some time with the family but still get to work. We’ve got a season to get ready for.”

Starter holding in

Starting nose tackle Davon Godchaux was present for both of New England’s mandatory minicamp practices but did not take part in team drills, instead watching from the sideline.
Head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed before Wednesday’s session that Godchaux’s limitations were due to a contract dispute.

“Look, we want him here,” Mayo said. “He’s one of our best players. He’s working. I will say that. He is working. He’s here every single day, has been here every single day. We look forward to getting him on the field in camp.”

Mayo was asked whether Godchaux’s situation is similar to Matthew Judon’s “hold-in” last summer, which resulted in the Patriots giving Judon a pay raise.

“I wouldn’t put it in those words,” he said. “But there are guys that, obviously, they want to redo contracts and stuff like that. And not just DG. It’s a bunch of guys that want to do those things, and we’re working through it.”

Godchaux is entering a contract year, and none of his $7.15 million in salary this season is guaranteed. The 30-year-old has appeared in every game (and started all but one) since joining the Patriots in 2021.

Mayo said he’s letting executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and his staff handle all contract-related matters.

Judon, who said earlier in the week that he wouldn’t throw “tantrums” over his contract, did participate in team drills Wednesday.

Mayo reveals (new) QB plan

Last month, Mayo said he expected the Patriots to “pare down” their quarterback room ahead of training camp. That plan seemingly has changed.

Asked Wednesday whether New England intends to carry all four of its QBs into camp, Mayo replied: “Absolutely.”

“That’s how I see it right now,” the head coach said. “We’ll have these conversations as the week progresses, but that’s how I see it right now.”

Gonzalez praised

Christian Gonzalez showed superstar potential during his injury-shortened rookie season, and one of his veteran teammates believes Patriots fans should be very excited about the young cornerback as he enters Year 2.

Jonathan Jones, the Patriots’ longest-tenured defensive player, said Gonzalez already is on track to becoming one of the NFL’s top corners.

“He has every attribute that you want in the corner,” Jones said after practice. “He’s just continuing to build his mental game. Physically, he’s what you want in the corner, and he’s just continuing developing. He’s going to be one of the best players in the game.”

Gonzalez handled daunting matchups against A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill as a 21-year-old rookie before suffering a season-ending torn labrum early in his fourth game as a pro.

Watching the remainder of the season was a strange experience for the first-round draft pick, who said Wednesday that he’d never missed a game due to injury at any level of football before 2023. He showed no ill effects from his injury in OTAs and minicamp, however, fully participating in every New England practice that was open to the media this spring.

Asked whether he’s back to 100%, Gonzalez replied: “I’m feeling good. Y’all seen it out there. I’m feeling good.”

Brady’s impact

The Tom Brady Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony brought out a litany of the QB’s former teammates, many of whom walked the red carpet into Gillette Stadium.

They spoke of Brady’s impact on their life and career and the biggest lesson they learned from the GOAT.

For safety Duron Harmon, it was Brady’s consistency.

“How he treated his teammates, how he came to work every day, practice every day, I knew what I was gonna get from Tom Brady each and every day,” Harmon said.

Wide receiver Danny Amendola learned professionalism from Brady.

“How to take care of you body, how to take care of everything off the field to predicate everything around winning games and having a successful career,” Amendola said. “So, he taught me what it mean to be a pro.”

What struck cornerback Jonathan Jones most was Brady’s temperament.

“Coming in, staying even keel,” Jones said. “That’s something I’ve tried to exhibit throughout my career.”