The New England Patriots’ surprising return to the Super Bowl can be traced back to their selection of quarterback Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft. Taken third overall from the University of North Carolina, Maye’s swift progression to an MVP contender in his second NFL season has turned the Patriots into strong championship contenders. However, this pivotal move was influenced quietly by Maye’s current Patriots teammate, Tommy DeVito. DeVito himself acknowledged his subtle yet crucial role in enabling New England to secure Maye during Super Bowl Opening Night.
DeVito’s Impact During the 2023 NFL Season
To understand how DeVito influenced Maye’s arrival in New England, one must revisit the 2023 season. That year, both the Patriots and the New York Giants ranked among the league’s poorest, with New England ending 4-13 and the Giants finishing 6-11. DeVito made a notable entrance as a rookie, starting six games and managing a 3-3 record, which shifted the trajectory of both franchises.
Notably, DeVito led the Giants to a key win over the Patriots in Week 12, affecting the draft order heading into 2024. His performance ensured the Patriots remained ahead of the Giants in draft position, opening the door for New England to pick Maye himself rather than risking the Giants taking him.
After joining the Patriots, DeVito reminded Maye of this critical fact about his draft opportunity early on.
“It was probably like my second day there,”
DeVito said.
“I was like, ‘Just so you know, you could have been in New York.’”
2024 NFL Draft First Round Highlights
The 2024 NFL Draft saw several notable first-round selections. Caleb Williams was taken first overall by the Chicago Bears, followed by Jayden Daniels at second to the Washington Commanders. The Patriots selected Drake Maye third overall. Other significant picks include Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals at fourth, Joe Alt to the Los Angeles Chargers at fifth, and Malik Nabers to the Giants at sixth. The draft also featured several quarterbacks such as Michael Penix Jr. going ninth to the Atlanta Falcons and J.J. McCarthy joining the Minnesota Vikings at tenth.
The selections reflect each team’s strategic direction, with emphasis on talent to rebuild or maintain strong rosters across multiple positions, notably quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line.
Speculating on What Could Have Been Without DeVito’s Victory
Questions arise regarding how different the future of both the Patriots and Giants might look if DeVito had not steered the Giants past New England in 2023. Would the Patriots have remained at the bottom of the AFC standings for longer? Could the Giants, led by Maye, have been the team featuring in Super Bowl LX at Santa Clara? Also under speculation is whether Brian Daboll would have continued as New York’s head coach if draft dynamics had changed.
Despite these hypotheticals, DeVito maintains that Maye’s talent would have prevailed, regardless of his destination. He explained,
“He has a really strong arm, very cerebral, athletic enough to move around in the pocket and extend plays and do whatever it is he needs to do. But I think that this mesh with Josh [McDaniels] is special.”
Drake Maye’s Rise and the Patriots’ Title Hopes
Maye led the NFL in both completion percentage and yards per attempt throughout the regular season, displaying remarkable efficiency and playmaking ability. Entering the upcoming season, he is poised to become the youngest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl, positioning the Patriots as a formidable force in the league. The combined influence of his talent and the strategic coaching compatibility with McDaniels has energized the New England franchise, raising expectations for a potential championship.
Tommy Devito to Isaiah Hodgins Passing TD (7/2)
pic.twitter.com/d8s56QRYJA— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDVids) November 26, 2023
Tommy DeVito drops a dime to Jalin Hyatt 😤
(via @Giants) pic.twitter.com/ZmCJfpfRFw
— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) November 26, 2023
