The New England Patriots have four wins through six weeks of the 2025 NFL season, tying their wins from the last two seasons.
New head coach Mike Vrabel has helped the team to a 4-2 record and is currently at the top of the AFC East division, putting the team in a prime position to win the division for the first time since the 2020 season.
Quarterback Drake Maye has seen major improvement from his rookie season, as he has yet to throw under 200 yards in a game this season.
While it is still in the first half of the season to make any concrete predictions for awards, one NFL writer believes Maye’s name should be put on the list.
Drake Maye Named MVP Candidate
GettyNew England Patriots QB Drake Maye was selected with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
Drake Maye was sitting on the bench while Jacoby Brissett was the starting quarterback during his rookie season.
Now, as the undisputed starter in his second season in Foxborough, Maye is looking like what was advertised from the 2024 NFL Draft. The former North Carolina Tar Heel has thrown for 1,522 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Patriots this season.
FanSided’s Justin Carter names Maye as a dark-horse MVP candidate entering Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season.
“There were plenty of people who thought 2025 would be a breakout season for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, but there’s also a big, big gap between ‘breakout’ and ‘MVP candidate.’ Maye leading his team to a 4-2 start and beating the [Buffalo] Bills on the road? That might be a little outside of our original expectations,” Carter wrote. “Despite working with a questionable crew of receiving options, Maye has completed 73.2 percent of his pass attempts this season, with his lowest weekly completion percentage being 65.2 percent against the [Las Vegas] Raiders in the season opener.”
“He’s thrown 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions, with his touchdown rate going up and interception rate going down compared to his rookie year… Is some of this because the coaching staff has schemed up easy throws for Maye? Sure — his 6.8 air yards per attempt rank just 30th in the league. Still, he deserves credit for executing on the plays.”
Head Coach On His Quarterback
GettyNew England Patriots QB Drake Maye with head coach Mike Vrabel
Drake Maye is in the top five in most passing yards this season and is cementing himself as the next franchise quarterback.
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Maye’s week-by-week improvement by a reporter, with the coach having faith in his QB’s ability to perform.
“Still some things to work on and improve there. But I think that there is a high level of confidence in the guys that he’s throwing to. Ball placement, decision making, timing, all those things, accuracy, that are critical. And so those are things that we’re continuing to see,” Vrabel said, via the Patriots website.
There are other players ahead of Maye in the MVP conversation, but if he can continue to put up good performances for New England, he could find himself as one of the top candidates for the award.
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