Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs is shown duiing mandatory minicamp last June. (AP photo)

SAN FRANCISCO – Stefon Diggs’ first impression of Patriots QB Drake Maye was a good one

“I really didn’t know too much about him other than we played him earlier (last season) when I was in Houston,” Diggs said “It was crazy. He had got like a mini standing ovation when he went out. It was one of his first games going in. He showed a lot of promise.”

Especially on one big pass.

“He made some throws,” Diggs said. ” He was running around. I clearly remember a ball he threw Kayshon Boutte in the back corner to the right, a touchdown. I was like, ‘He can spin it a little bit.’

“It was early, of course,” Diggs continued “He didn’t play the whole game, but I think he finished it off. I didn’t really think too much about it then because I was in Houston just rocking and rolling.

“And up to now it’s been a long journey. Definitely been a long journey. His maturation process is second to none. One of the best I’ve ever seen from a quarterback position. He’s still super young, which is crazy.”

But Diggs has really enjoyed being around Maye.

“He’s had a lot of success, but as I have grown closer to him, I’m a huge fan of him,” he said. “He’s like a mini inspiration. To be that young, be that mature and be able to play at a high level is something that I always wanted when I was a young player. I’m just happy to be a part of this thing. He’s a good teammate as well. We joke and laugh a lot in that building, in that room. The more time we spend, I see that relationship growing. He’s cool with all his teammates.”

He’s like that quarterback – I don’t know how to describe it. If you play football you’d know, but he has that quarterback mindset, that quarterback energy. Yeah, he’s cool.

His rapport with Maye has been one of the main reasons Diggs has been rejuvinated this season, coming back from his knee injury, etc. Remember, he is the second oldest player on the team other than veteran offensive lineman Morgan Moses.

And with the wide receivers, he is the oldest.

“I’m the oldest in the room,” Diggs said. “They make fun me of all the time. I’m like, look, Mike Wallace told me a long time ago when I was young, I used to make fun of him for being old. I think I met him in year seven or eight. I was like, “Damn you’re old.” And he’d say, ‘You’re going to be old one day too.’ I will never forget that statement.

” At this point, Pop [DeMario Douglas], Kyle Williams and even Kayshon, they make fun of me all the time. And I’m like, ‘Look, you’ll all be old one day, too, and we’ll revisit and have this conversation again.’ I just look forward to coming to work every day, bringing that positive energy, bringing that good mindset, that work mindset. And being around guys like Mack Hollins and stuff like that, they make it easy. Everybody wants to work and play at a high level. So, for me, I just bring a little bit of a different, one small puzzle piece to the leadership. …

“Those young players are shining. Those young players are future stars in my eyes. I feel like they’re going to play well and do a lot of great things in this league. Just got to continue to lead from the front and the back.”

But the chance to win a Super Bowl hasn’t been lost on Diggs

“It means everything to me,” he said. “I kind of talked about notoriety and legacy the other day. I just feel like these are one of those things that kind of help your journey, I guess. It’s been a long journey. It’s been a long time just even to get here. A lot of games played, a lot of practices. That’s why I can’t get swayed or can’t get distracted, I’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing. Get back to work.

“Don’t think too much of it. Don’t think less of it than what it is either. Appreciate it for everything that I’ve been through, every practice, every day. Life. I just take it for what it is. I’m just thankful to be where I am right now. I want to appreciate it, and the best way I can do that is nurture the blessing that God’s given me, get back to work, get on the grind and trying to find a way to earn a win.”

It’s worked so far.