Drake Maye has firmly established himself as the leader of the New England Patriots heading into the upcoming NFL season, and many are confident in what he can bring to the team moving forward. Starting in Week 1, he’ll have Kendrick Bourne as one of his primary weapons—hoping to form a lethal duo in the AFC East.
Since joining the franchise in 2021, this will be the first time Kendrick Bourne gets to play alongside the former North Carolina standout as the team’s starting quarterback. As a result, expectations for what these two can produce on the field are running high.
In a recent conversation with the media, the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver shared his thoughts on what he’s seen so far from the quarterback and issued a warning to opponents about what Maye could bring this season.
“The confidence is there, maybe even more confidence,” Kendrick Bourne said via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. “He’s just — obviously, he’s gonna be in a new system. So I think he’s in that process. He’s learning. But the confidence is there. Drake is a competitor.
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne #84 runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
“When we do certain things, like his competitive spirit is starting to show more, in my opinion, which I love. Coming out of that shell, you know, he’s gonna become a vet. So I think that’s what he’s embracing. He understands. He’s familiar with what to expect, what to feel, and that just creates a better, confident quarterback going into Year 2.”
Bourne shares his thoughts on what’s ahead
A new era is beginning in Foxborough following the arrival of Mike Vrabel and several fresh faces on the roster. Kendrick Bourne will have another opportunity to showcase his full talent, and he knows that his strong mindset is something that can help him perform at the level the situation demands.
“It was never the confidence in my mind … it was my mind and body being connected to do exactly what I was trying to do,” the wide receiver told reporters at Gillette Stadium. “Sometimes you make a move after [recovering from] an injury and your body doesn’t go how you thought it was going to go. It makes you question your confidence. So I’m eliminating that now. Where I’m at, I’m just I’m thankful.”
McDaniels is back in Foxborough
Another familiar face making his return to New England is Josh McDaniels, the franchise’s longtime offensive coordinator. Bourne knows what it’s like to play under him and is someone he truly feels comfortable with.
“I had my best year with [Coach McDaniels,] but I’m not banking on that,” Bourne started. “I love his offense. I fit in well with it.”
“But I’m just [going to] put my best foot forward,” he also added. “I think that becomes an issue when you try to overthink, you try to do too much to control the outcome. When you just let it flow and let it come to you, study what you’re supposed to do … Coming off an injury was really tough on me. I underestimated it. This year I feel really strong, really polished. I’m just banking on that.”
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