Drake Maye Praises Jared Wilson’s Grasp of Center Responsibilities

While much attention has focused on how quarterback Drake Maye will adapt to new star wide receiver A.J. Brown in New England, his preparation for the 2026 season involves additional changes beyond that.

After trading Garrett Bradbury to the Bears this offseason, the Patriots will shift 2025 third‑round pick Jared Wilson from guard to center for his second year. Wilson will need to build chemistry with Maye and master the line’s blocking calls—tasks Maye says should be easier given Wilson’s opportunity to observe Bradbury’s performance last season.

Maye noted, via a team transcript, “Getting to know a center’s tendencies takes a full season—his preferences, how he moves left while I go right, the nuances of under‑center play and his grasp of microphone calls. Jared is intelligent, very intelligent. I would have liked to play with him in college; he attended the SEC, and I hold no grudge. I believe he has done an excellent job understanding what it takes to play center. You need to be vocal, to treat the partnership as ‘me and you, it’s our show.’ He’s adapting to the subtle details under center, including his preferred silent cadence, and he already shows a strong feel for it. Having observed Garrett last year has been a valuable advantage for him.”

The Patriots’ offensive line struggled in their Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks, revealing clear areas for improvement throughout the season. Developing a cohesive rhythm between Maye and Wilson will be essential to achieving that progress when they return to game action this fall.

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