If you were tuned in last season, you probably caught the bromance brewing in Foxborough—Drake Maye and Joe Milton. Two young QBs from different draft planets, somehow orbiting the same system. Maye was the golden child, the No. 3 overall pick meant to fix what Brady left behind. Milton? A Day 3 dart throw with a rocket arm and zero pressure. But despite the draft gap, the chemistry between the two looked very real. Maye even said it himself: “Joe’s my guy.”

They met at the Manning Passing Academy. Trained together. Competed. Pushed each other all season in practice. Maye got better at reading defenses. Milton let that cannon rip. And if you watched closely, the respect was mutual. The duo didn’t exactly bring back 2001 Brady-Bledsoe levels of intrigue, but they were building something—something fun, even if it didn’t always show up on Sundays.

So when the Patriots shipped Milton to the Dallas Cowboys this April, it seemed like a business move. On April 2, ESPN reported that Jerry Jones’ team would receive the quarterback, along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Notably, the 25-year-old—picked 193rd overall in the 2024 NFL draft—had reportedly expressed his desire to compete for a starting job during the offseason. However, with the Patriots recently signing veteran QB Josh Dobbs on a two-year, $8 million contract and Maye continuing his starter role, the only competition left for Milton would be for a backup spot. So, no wonder Milton seemed ecstatic.

“My family grew up a Cowboys fan. My mom always had a Cowboys shirt on. She always talked about them. Living in Texas has been a longtime dream of mine. And now I’m with them. I’m ready to work.” Even though Milton just completed his rookie season, he’s already embracing the opportunity for a fresh start with Dallas, and even called the trade “a blessing come true”, noting, “That was something that me and my team talked about and was able to get done with the Cowboys, so it’s just a blessing to be here.” No QB room drama, no media circus, just clear the runway for Maye. Makes sense, right? Until this little bombshell dropped from Ben Volin, about the player’s family…

According to the Boston Globe vet, “Why not hold on to Milton through training camp and let him showcase his talents in preseason games? Or next preseason? The obvious answer is to placate Maye, their young franchise quarterback.” The journalist further wrote, “Maye’s family was not thrilled when Milton was drafted,” and even implied that Maye wasn’t exactly happy about giving up Week 18 to his buddy—who completed his NFL debut vs the Buffalo Bills with 22 of 29 pass attempts for 241 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown in the first quarter.

The aftermath? “Maye left the locker room without speaking to reporters and then skipped locker room cleanout day.” Now, it’s giving drama. But let’s pump the brakes for a second. That kind of icy narrative doesn’t really match what we saw last season. The friendship? Public. The mutual respect? Documented. So where’s this suddenly frosty vibe coming from? Is it even real?

Well, if you’re not familiar with the history between Ben Volin and Patriots fans, you seem to have missed a saga. Since the Belichick empire, Volin’s takes have poked the bear more than once. From Deflategate to Mac Jones being “a locker room problem” (based on a fan DM, mind you), he’s no stranger to stirring the pot in Foxborough. Some fans still haven’t forgiven him for the Mac report, and the trust? It’s hanging on by a thread.

So naturally, when Volin suggests Maye’s family was behind Milton’s exit, fans start squinting. Especially since Maye’s own comments about Milton don’t hint at any tension.

We aren’t implying that Volin’s NOT a respected name in NFL media circles. He is. It’s just his sour chemistry with New England makes this one a little more ‘iffy’ then usual. So yeah, maybe Maye wasn’t thrilled to sit out week 18. Maybe the cleanout day absence meant something. Or maybe… it’s just a slow offseason.

Drake Maye’s the reason Mike Vrabel is here

If you thought Mike Vrabel just showed up in Foxborough for the nostalgia tour—think again. The man didn’t come back just to hang his old jersey in the hallway. He came back because of Drake Maye. Yep, that Drake Maye. The kid with just one win under his NFL belt. According to Vrabel himself, the rookie QB was “a large part of the reason why I wanted to be here.” Bold move, coach.

Let’s rewind a bit. Maye’s rookie year wasn’t some fairytale. He finished with 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, 10 picks, and an 88.1 passer rating. Not jaw-dropping, but considering the makeshift O-line and coaching roulette, the Pro Bowl nod felt like a nice little “yeah, I’m still him” moment.

The guy was basically playing behind traffic cones half the season. So, what now? Maybe Vrabel, the linebacker-turned-leader, is about to flip the protection narrative. And don’t miss what Vrabel actually said. “Excited to build this team around [him]… to be able to grow and help him and lead and run an offense and run a football team.”

That’s not just lip service. That’s commitment. You don’t say that on a national show unless you’re fully bought in. And let’s be honest—Vrabel doesn’t do fluff.

This offseason? It’s been all gas, no brakes. Nearly 25% of the roster’s been flipped. A top-five draft pick is incoming. And the weapons around Maye are finally NFL-caliber, not just preseason hopefuls. So yeah, this isn’t about if he’ll take a step forward—it’s about how far he can go with an actual structure around him.

Is Maye the guy? We’re about to find out. But Vrabel betting on him says more than any stat sheet could.