SAN JOSE, Calif. — Arguably the largest purpose why the New England Patriots are out of the blue again within the Tremendous Bowl is because of the arrival of Drake Maye. The franchise chosen the UNC quarterback with the third total choose on the 2024 NFL Draft, and his 12 months 2 leap into being an MVP candidate in 2025 has thrust New England into quick title rivalry. And none of this may increasingly have been attainable with out Maye’s present teammate and fellow Patriots signal-caller Tommy DeVito.
“Oh, I’ve advised him,” DeVito advised CBS Sports activities throughout Tremendous Bowl Opening Evening, acknowledging his understated position in New England in the end touchdown Maye again in 2024.
To completely perceive DeVito’s half on this story that has New England taking part in for an additional Lombardi Trophy, you have to return to the 2023 marketing campaign. Each the Patriots and Giants ended up being among the many worst groups within the NFL that 12 months, with New England ending 4-13 and New York saddled with a 6-11 report. Nonetheless, because of DeVito bursting onto the scene as a rookie and main the Giants to a 3-3 report over his six begins, it helped change the fortunes of each franchises.
The truth is, DeVito beat New England in a head-to-head matchup in Week 12 of that season.
Had DeVito merely not led the Giants to a victory in that matchup, each groups would’ve completed 5-12, and New York would’ve leapfrogged the Patriots for a better draft choose, presumably with the prospect to pick Maye for themselves. And DeVito made positive to remind him of that not lengthy after he arrived on the Patriots after being claimed off waivers in late August.
“It was in all probability like my second day there,” he mentioned of his preliminary dialog with Maye about how he impacted his draft vacation spot. “I used to be like, ‘Simply so you understand, you might have been in New York.'”
2024 NFL Draft Spherical 1 order, alternatives
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
9. Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
10. Minnesota Vikings: J.J .McCarthy, QB, Michigan
11. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
17. Vikings: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
23. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
24. Detroit Lions: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
25. Inexperienced Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
27. Cardinals: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
28. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
29. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
32. Carolina Panthers: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
What may need been
It is honest to surprise how completely different each groups may need regarded had DeVito not pulled off the win over New England in 2023. Do the Patriots keep within the basement of the AFC for some time longer? Is it a Drake Maye-led Giants group descending onto Santa Clara for Tremendous Bowl LX? Is Brian Daboll nonetheless the top coach of New York? One factor that might’ve remained the identical regardless, in keeping with DeVito, was Maye ultimately changing into the MVP-caliber QB he’s at the moment.
“Yeah, positively,” DeVito mentioned when requested if Maye would’ve labored wherever he landed. “He has a extremely robust arm, very cerebral, athletic sufficient to maneuver round within the pocket and lengthen performs and do no matter it’s he must do. However I feel that this mesh with Josh [McDaniels] is particular.”
After main the NFL in completion share and yards per try in the course of the common season, Maye is now trying to change into the youngest quarterback ever to win a Tremendous Bowl.
