Despite leading one of the NFL's most depleted offenses, rookie quarterback Drake Maye is turning heads in New England. Through seven games and six starts, the 22-year-old has thrown for 1,458 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 65.5% of his passes - numbers that become more impressive when you consider his supporting cast.
"He's got a live arm, man," one AFC defensive assistant told NBC Sports Boston. "He really can make every throw. That was something we kept telling our guys. They don't have that guy on the outside who scares you, but [Maye] is willing to give those guys a shot."
Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt went even further: "Drake's an anomaly. He's playing at a high-level for a rookie quarterback and that's great for all of us."
The third overall pick's impact extends beyond the box score. Maye has added another dimension to New England's offense with his legs, rushing for 286 yards and a touchdown while averaging a stunning 8.7 yards per carry. However, with 11 turnovers in his first seven starts, his ability to secure the ball remains a major concern.
"The turnovers, they have to stop," Van Pelt acknowledged. "There's no excuses there, rookie, 10-year player, vet, it doesn't matter. We can't turn the ball over and expect to win games."
With $118 million in effective cap space heading into the offseason, the pressure is mounting on New England's front office to maximize Maye's rookie contract. When you have a quarterback on a rookie contract, that's the time to surround him. The young QB might be the best of all of the rookie quarterbacks, but it means little if he doesn't have the supporting cast necessary to bring out the best in him.
For Patriots fans, Maye represents more than just present-day hope - he's the key to their entire rebuild. The question isn't whether he can play; it's wheth
