New England Patriots' quarterback surprising ranking among second-year quarterbacks

The New England Patriots are just a few short weeks away from opening up training camp, and that means franchise quarterback Drake Maye is about ready to get his second season in the NFL underway.

Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, impressed in his rookie season. He played in 13 games for the Patriots, leading them to three wins, and completing 66.6% of his passes for 2276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while adding 431 rushing yards and two rushing scores. All in all, Maye did enough to give the Patriots hope moving forward.

The former UNC quarterback was one of five first-round quarterbacks to make their debuts in 2024, all of whom impressed in their own ways at times, but where does Maye rank among that group of quarterbacks heading into their pivotal second year in the NFL?

Pro Football Network’s Brandon Austin ranked all of the second-year quarterbacks ahead of the 2025 NFL season, and noticeably ranked Maye fourth on the list, ahead of the Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy and the Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. That ranking could come as a surprise to Patriots fans, but Austin made a point of providing context.

“New England’s offense was among the league’s worst, with a poor receiving corps, a struggling offensive line, and a lackluster run game,” Austin wrote. “This environment made it difficult for Maye to consistently showcase his big arm and playmaking ability.”

That much is true. Maye was sacked 34 times in 13 games and was pressured on 37.4% of his dropbacks, per PFF, the 13th-highest among quarterbacks in 2024. However, seeing Maye’s name behind Bo Nix, and even Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who notably struggled in 2024, could come as a shock. However, Austin is optimistic for Maye’s prospects in the season ahead.

“Heading into 2025, the Patriots have made several key moves to support Maye. They acquired Stefon Diggs as their WR1, drafted promising rookie receiver Kyle Williams, and added running back TreVeyon Henderson to bolster the rushing attack.” And the enthusiasm regarding the infrastructure didn’t end there for Austin.

He went on to add, “The offensive line and coaching staff have also been upgraded, with new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels expected to increase the aggressiveness of the passing game. After putting up respectable numbers in Year 1, Maye has the opportunity to solidify himself as the franchise cornerstone in his second season.”

Despite his less-than-satisfactory ranking, even among a group of talented peers, there’s an expectation that Maye could have a big second season in the NFL for the Patriots.