The New England Patriots fan base is riding a euphoric high even after a 4-13 season that was one Week 18 win away from the worst record in football. And that’s because the region believes they’ve found their quarterback.
The third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Drake Maye, has had a full offseason to prepare to become the lead man in Foxboro and Pro Football Focus provides their analysis on the young signal caller in their “ceilings and floors” article for next seasons second-year quarterbacks.
Patriots fans might want to shield their eyes, as Maye did not garner the most glamorous comparisons.
“While flashing some of his athleticism and playmaking abilities, Maye wasn’t able to showcase his big arm consistently,” PFF wrote in the “floor” portion. “He notched just 14 big-time throws and 16 turnover-worthy plays, making his rookie season similar to Daniel Jones’ in their PFF grades and efficiency. Maye posted a 64.9 PFF passing grade and Jones logged a 65.1 mark, while Maye averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and Jones averaged 6.6.”
Though Daniel Jones isn’t quite the next Tom Brady, as most fans would have preferred to read, it is much better than the outlook on Caleb Williams. The first overall pick from the draft class didn’t even earn a comparison in the floor section, the website simply wrote “bust”.
“Obviously, Jones struggled to generate big-time throws over the past four years with the Giants,” PFF concluded. “I don’t anticipate that being an issue for Maye, but Jones had a better big-time throw rate as a rookie.”
Drake Maye’s Ceiling: Trevor Lawrence
Again, shield your eyes. When you’re talking about best case scenario for your team’s quarterback, Trevor Lawrence isn’t exactly the first name that comes to mind. The Jaguars’ thrower is immensely talented but is yet to prove himself as a winner of football games. But, in fairness, neither has Maye.
“Maye showed off an incredible arm in college (80 big-time throws in two seasons) and the ability to protect the ball (1.7% turnover-worthy throw rate in 2023),” PFF continued. “The Patriots, unfortunately, put one of the worst supporting casts around Maye, so his projections moving forward really shouldn’t change based on his performance in 2024… Maye’s athleticism and big arm give him a high-end ceiling like that of Trevor Lawrence, who I think has better play in his future.”
This appears as both a bode of confidence in the Patriots’ QB and Jacksonville’s lead man. It feels as though the analytics company believes neither Maye nor Lawrence have unlocked the full potential of what they can become.
What Does Success in 2025 Look Like For Maye
Us Boston sports fans are not known for our patience. But in a city that has fallen hard for their quarterback, I feel confident saying that he will have an extremely long leash in 2025. For Maye, his success is the team’s success. Individual stats are non-consequential in a building built by winners.
That being said, Vegas has the Patriots win total set at 7.5. I believe anything north of seven wins is undeniably a success. Unless it turns out to be an ugly 8-9. Think a 2024 Atlanta Falcons-esque 2-6 finish after a 6-3 start.
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