​Drake Maye came into this season with expectations that few young quarterbacks have to handle. He was coming off a Super Bowl appearance, finished second in the MVP voting and had already shown New England that he could carry a big part of its offense.Three weeks later, Maye’s confidence appears to have dropped. The Patriots are 1-2, while Maye has thrown six interceptions and scored only one touchdown. New England is averaging 12 points per game, showing how badly the offense has struggled. Those results have brought more attention and pressure on Maye whenever the Patriots fail to score.Rob Gronkowski Sees Something Different With Drake MayeThat is where Rob Gronkowski offered a different view of what is happening. Speaking on Up & Adams, the former Patriots star argued that the problem is much bigger than Maye simply playing poorly.Dec 21, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs from Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53) during the first half of the game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images“They do need A.J. Brown back,” Gronkowski said. “There is literally no one open on the field.”Gronkowski believes New England’s receivers are making Maye’s job harder by failing to get open. Instead of making clear, simple throws, Maye often has to pass into tight coverage.“He’s gonna have to stick it in every single time into a tight window,” Gronkowski said. His comment shows how little room Maye has to make mistakes.“There is literally no one open on the field” Rob Gronkowski defends Patriots QB Drake Maye using these plays@RobGronkowski | @heykayadamspic.twitter.com/mscxHBASPA— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) September 30, 2026Gronkowski did not clear Maye of responsibility for the offense’s problems. He said the quarterback must become more confident, but he also stressed that the entire offense must improve.A.J. Brown’s Absence Has Exposed The Bigger IssueA.J. Brown joined New England from Philadelphia to give the offense another proven outside receiver. He caught four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown in the opener before a high ankle sprain sent him to injured reserve.New England’s offense has struggled without Brown. His absence has left Maye with one fewer reliable target in the passing game.Jul 28, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (1) walks to practice for training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesMaye completed 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards against Jacksonville. He also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble before being removed late in the 35-6 loss.The Patriots scored only six points in that game. Their poor performance showed that the offense has problems beyond one player or one position.The turnovers remain a major concern. Six interceptions in three games have repeatedly ended drives and given opponents more chances with the ball.Gronkowski po