FOXBORO >> Patriots second-year starting quarterback Drake Maye believes his team found some “answers” this offseason.

It was an eventful offseason that saw the Patriots fire head coach Jerod Mayo, hire Mike Vrabel as his replacement, bring on an almost entirely new coaching staff and bolster their offense and defense with veteran additions and through the draft.

“I mean, I’m pumped,” Maye said Thursday while speaking to reporters for the first time during the offseason workout program. “I think a lot of new faces, a lot of guys, a lot of veterans who have played a high level. I think we kind of found answers in a lot of different spots that hopefully can plug and play. I think that’s what the point of free agency is: get good guys coming here and help us win, help us win now. And I think you add that in with some young talent that we’ve had in the past couple drafts, and I think hopefully we’re in the right direction.”

The Patriots emphasized improving their defense in free agency, adding notable names in defensive tackle Milton Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis, outside linebacker Harold Landry and linebacker Robert Spillane. They spent their first four draft picks on offensive players, selecting offensive tackle Will Campbell, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams and center Jared Wilson to a free agency class that included wide receiver Stefon Diggs and right tackle Morgan Moses.

Maye is especially excited to play with Diggs.

“Shoot, Stefon, I mean, he was one of those guys growing up, when I was in high school, he was young in the league, and had him on my fantasy team and things like that. So, playing with him in Madden, so it’s pretty cool to … now this season be throwing to him. He’s coming back, obviously, from injury, so he’s doing great, been around, and think it’s just, it’s gonna be cool to throw up a receiver who can make plays like he has, made big plays in playoff games, who’s been in a lot of different schemes and played with high-level quarterbacks to see his point of view on different stuff. My job is to give him a chance to go get it,” he said.

It’s not just new players that Maye is surrounded with. Vrabel brings a different vibe as a head coach. Maye acknowledged that his new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, coached “the best to ever do it” in Tom Brady.

“Yeah, it’s been awesome,” Maye said of Vrabel. “It’s been great with coach. He’s coming in here, and seems like he’s been here a while. He’s just, he’s so comfortable being a head coach.”

Maye added on McDaniels: “He’s been offensive coordinator, a head coach. Does it at a high level. His stuff works. Kind of proof’s in the pudding.”

Maye posted on social media after seeing comments Campbell made after getting drafted, saying he would “fight and die” to protect his quarterback.

Maye said that made him want to “go out there and play football now.”

Maye was the 13th-highest pressured quarterback last season, per PFF, so it makes sense that adding a left tackle like Campbell makes him want to take some snaps.

Maye on Milton trade

Maye is the only person remaining from last year’s Patriots quarterback room.

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach TC McCartney were fired, veteran Jacoby Brissett signed with the Cardinals, and most notably, the Patriots traded 2024 sixth-round pick Joe Milton III to the Cowboys.

Maye was asked about Milton’s departure on Thursday.

“Yeah, I texted Joe. Me and Joe, we came in together. We learned the offense together. We were competing every day to see who could out-throw each other in practice. And obviously, he’s got a big arm, so it was cool for him to get a chance to go hopefully be a backup,” Maye said. “And I think you saw him in the Bills game, the potential. And I think he’s fun, because we have kind of a similar playstyle a little bit. And it was fun relating to our similar college offense to this offense. And it was cool to kind of be in the room and have somebody bounce off ideas, or hey, you’re doing this in college and stuff like that. So cool for Joe, and I know probably, you never know, might play him again or see him down the road.”

Miltion joins a Cowboys quarterback room that includes Dak Prescott and former Patriots QB Will Grier.

Elliss a ‘perfect fit’

The new Patriots’ regime clearly values different traits out of linebackers.

That was evident when the team matched the Raiders’ two-year, $13.508 million offer sheet for linebacker Christian Elliss and then turned around and released former captain Ja’Whaun Bentley.

Elliss and new additions Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens make up for what they lack in size with speed and athleticism.

Elliss spent the first two years of his career as a fringe roster player before finding his footing on special teams. He played a career high in defensive snaps last season, starting four games and registering 80 tackles and five pass breakups. It was enough to convince Vrabel that he would like to keep Elliss around.

“I think my skill set fits perfectly within the defense,” Elliss said Thursday. “It fits perfectly within the scheme. You know, there’s some stuff I haven’t done before, and they’re teaching me how to do it. So I’m excited to try these new things that they’re showing me, you know, the Tennessee style. So I’m excited about it.”

Elliss is 6-foot-2, 231 pounds. He ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash coming out of Idaho in 2021.

The Patriots also kept linebackers Monty Rice and Jahlani Tavai from last year’s linebacker corps. Rice was selected by Vrabel in 2021 to the Titans. It remains to be seen what role Tavai, who fit Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo’s defenses, plays under Vrabel.

Elliss, who has been cut six times throughout his NFL career, cried tears of joy when the Raiders offered him the two-year contract. When the Patriots matched the deal, “it was nothing but excitement, nothing but joy.”