New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had a promising rookie season despite the team’s second-straight 4-13 campaign.

First-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is looking to make the most of Maye and get the team turned around in the process. So, Vrabel brought in Ashton Grant to be the quarterbacks coach.

“When this opportunity presented itself, it’s something I jumped on as quickly as possible,” Grant told fans at the Patriots draft party on Sunday via Mass Live’s Karen Guregian. “I mean, this kid is going to be special. He has all the talent in the world.”

“This guy is a next-level thinker,” Grant added. “He’s well-rounded. I think there’s no better quarterback you’d want in your franchise.”

Grant, who served on the Cleveland Browns staff in 2024, said former Patriots assistants Alex Van Pelt and TC McCartney were letting him know about Maye. Van Pelt served as the offensive coordinator and McCartney the quarterbacks coach during Maye’s rookie year.

“They were always blowing my phone up, talking to me about how awesome Drake Maye was as a rookie,” Grant said via Mass Live’s Karen Guregian. “So just working in Cleveland, and seeing him from afar, I was super excited.”

As a rookie, Maye completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns versus 10 interceptions. He took over the starting job after five games, and the Patriots went 3-9 with him under center after the team started 0-5 with Jacoby Brissett as the starter.

New England took Maye with the No. 2 pick out of North Carolina in 2024.