Patriots

Drew Bledsoe believes Alex Van Pelt is the ideal coach to develop Drake Maye. Here’s why.

“I really think that Alex is one of those special quarterback whisperer dudes that’s really gonna help," Bledsoe said about the Patriots' offensive coordinator.

By Faith Pinnow

May 13, 2024

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When the Patriots selected UNC’s Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, he became the franchise’s most coveted pick since Drew Bledsoe went No. 1 to New England in 1993.

Bledsoe, who played nine seasons with the Patriots fresh out of Washington State, knows the pressures facing a rookie quarterback. Like Maye, Bledsoe was assigned the task of reviving a struggling offense, one that went just 2-14 during the 1992 season. 

Luckily, part of the Patriots’ offseason rebuild involved installing a group of coaches around Maye to help with his development. New head coach Jerod Mayo revealed at rookie minicamp over the weekend that Maye’s primary coach is offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. 

“We do have a group of coaches that have quarterback backgrounds, but I would say overall it would be [Van Pelt] as far as that lead guy,” Mayo told reporters. “There has to be balance there, you don’t want Drake hearing too many voices.”

During an appearance Monday on Fan Duel’s Up & Adams, Bledsoe co-signed the decision to make Van Pelt the lead go-between with Maye.

“Alex, from a backup standpoint, had the best football mind, and he also has this incredibly calm demeanor,” Bledsoe said about his former teammate. The two retired quarterbacks initially met while playing for the Buffalo Bills, overlapping from 2002-2003 before Van Pelt retired in 2004. 

“I really think that Alex is one of those special quarterback whisperer dudes that’s really gonna help [Maye],” he said.

Maye, who will be competing alongside veteran QB Jacoby Brissett and rookie sixth-round pick Joe Milton III, is coming off of a successful 2023-24 season with the Tar Heels. The 21-year-old completed 63.3% of his passes for 3,608 yards. He threw 24 touchdown passes and rushed for nine, with just nine interceptions. Now, with Van Pelt in his corner, Bledsoe is confident Maye will find success with his new team.

“[Van Pelt] is a great guy and a really brilliant football mind and I believe he’ll find a way — even with the limited weapons that they have — he’ll find a way to get them moving,” Bledsoe said.