The New England Patriots have had a topsy-turvy 2025 season thus far. They started poorly, bounced back, and then laid a huge egg, once again at home (an alarming trend), against a lackluster Pittsburgh Steelers team. One constant has been the terrific play of quarterback Drake Maye, and analyst Greg Bedard is impressed.
Because of all the turnover, it was going to take time for all the disparate pieces to coalesce. Mike Vrabel was brought in to turn things around, and it looked like his offseason efforts were poised to do just that, until they didn't. The Pollyannaish thought was that the Patriots might contend for a playoff spot. Thus far, they're not evidencing much of that pedigree, as mistakes have plagued them in all three of their games thus far. Regardless, Maye's play has been a bright spot.
Maye has been a silver lining among the disappointments. Young Maye is clearly a franchise-level young quarterback who, despite still having a sieve-like offensive line and a subpar wide receiving corps, still manages to perform. Yet, even he hasn't been perfect. And that's why Bedard is bullish on the young quarterback and is counseling patience.
Drake Maye is overcoming massive obstacles and still playing great
Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard spoke about the Patriots' turnover issue, sharing some very positive words for Maye this season, and counsels Patriot Nation to be patient with the young quarterback.
.@GregABedard has like what he's seen from Drake Maye and thinks with every week he's improving
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) September 23, 2025
“Drake Maye is getting better. I am more and more encouraged by his play…People just have to have patience and not expect him to be freaking Joe Montana in week 3 of his 2nd season.” pic.twitter.com/mkFd2NlIPJ
This is a sound observation by Bedard, who is well-versed in the subject. Maye has only started 15 NFL games thus far in his young NFL career. Additionally, he had no first-team reps in 2024 at all until about Week 4 of that ill-fated 2024 season.
His development was stunted by that myopic decision, and he'll only complete his first full 17 NFL games (a full season) after two more starts. Yet, in 2025, he has racked up an impressive 72.6 percent completion percentage thus far, ranking third in the NFL.
Drake Maye is on the pinnacle of superstardom, and only one thing can thwart it
The Patriots have had a lackluster start to the 2025 season, sitting at 1-2, a full two games behind the formidable and uncatchable Buffalo Bills. Yet, the most promising aspect of the Patriots' team thus far is no surprise whatsoever; it's the play of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. He has been superb. Even in games when his supporting cast and team overall have struggled, he has excelled.
One thing to take issue with Bedard about is his counsel of patience. There is nothing to be patient about. Maye, despite the still weak supporting cast he has accompanying has been terrific. The only thing restraining him from taking the top off the entire NFL is still not having an offensive line that can give him time and receivers who can get open. That's a function of poor roster construction and totally out of his control. It's on Mike Vrabel and his front office to fix.
Vrabel dished out cash to three free agents and invested two top draft picks in the offensive line as well this offseason. Unsurprisingly, four new players replaced 2024's bottom-of-the-NFL O-line as starters. Regrettably, though, up to now, the O-line has still been porous. While there are positive signs from the two rookies, left tackle Will Campbell and guard Jared Wilson, the number of sacks allowed is unacceptable.
The offensive line is surrendering sacks at an alarming rate (an average of four per game). This, coupled with a remodeled receiving corps that still can't get separation, is a prescription for offensive disaster. Despite those shortcomings in his supporting cast, however, Maye has still managed to rack up eye-popping statistics.
Mike Vrabel has to upgrade his offensive line and receiving corps (and maybe even his fumbling running backs). He can trade underperformers or use other players on his roster (e.g., wide receiver Efton Chism III and tackle Marcus Bryant), or things may not get any better. Continuous mistakes like giving up sacks and fumbling, and receivers failing to get separation, have to disappear. If not, even the brilliant performances of Maye won't be able to rescue the Patriots from another losing season.