Josh McDaniels isn't done with Drake Maye. The offensive coordinator believes the quarterback's best football is ahead of him—a statement that carries weight coming from someone who's spent a career maximizing talent in New England's system. After one game, McDaniels is already thinking about layers, progressions, timing. That's either genuine optimism about scheme fit or a measured way of saying the rookie needs runway. Either way, it matters: if McDaniels sees it, the organization is patient.
The more pressing issue sits in the backfield. TreVeyon Henderson's outlook has darkened considerably. We don't know exactly what transpired Sunday, but the messaging is unmistakable—a former second-round pick is on the outside looking in. That suggests depth behind him is either performing or the coaching staff has lost faith in Henderson's fit for what they're trying to build. Hassan Haskins and Rhamondre Stevenson are on this roster. The competition level just got real.
Then there's the mystery nobody's talking about loudly enough: who's returning kickoffs? That's not a glamorous question, but it's a revealing one. Special teams assignments tell you how the team values depth, who they trust in space, and whether they've identified a Swiss Army knife on the roster. The fact it's still unclear suggests Week 1 exposed a gap—either depth-chart wise or in terms of game planning. Mike Vrabel's staff will have answers before next Sunday, but right now it's a loose end.
This is what the first game does. McDaniels' confidence in Maye isn't contradicted by Henderson's struggles or the kickoff question mark—it's context. The Patriots are still figuring out who they are and who fits. Maye gets a longer leash because he's the quarterback. Henderson's doesn't look nearly as forgiving.