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Drake Maye continues making history in rookie season with the Patriots

By Ryan McLaughlin

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws while in the grasp of Tennessee Titans safety Mike Brown (44) during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. It was the last play of regulation and the New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) came up with the reception in the end zone to force overtime. The play lasted more than 11 seconds as Maye kept the play alive under constant pressure.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws while in the grasp of Tennessee Titans safety Mike Brown (44) during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. It was the last play of regulation and the New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) came up with the reception in the end zone to force overtime. The play lasted more than 11 seconds as Maye kept the play alive under constant pressure. / Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Even though the Patriots haven't produced a lot of wins during Drake Maye's rookie season, he continues to put up numbers that have popped eyes. Earlier this season, he joined Dan Marino and Mark Rypien as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to eclipse 500 yards passing and five touchdown passes in their first two starts

With his career just four games old, Maye has put up more than 700 yards passing, six touchdowns, more than 200 yards rushing, more than one rushing touchdown, and a completion percentage north of 60 percent. And nobody else is in that company, as Maye is the first quarterback in NFL history to accomplish that.

Not only that, but Maye's ability to extend plays and use his legs has been a trait not seen from a Patriots quarterback in generations. In the last two games, Maye has rushed for 141 yards, including 95 against the Titans in Week 8, the highest for a quarterback in consecutive games in team history. That eclipsed Steve Grogan's mark of 132 from 1976.

The Patriots may be closer to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft than contending for a Super Bowl, and the team hardly has any playmakers around Maye. But there's no doubt that Eliot Wolf and Robert Kraft hit a home run by selecting Maye with the third overall pick in last spring's draft, and the numbers, as mentioned earlier, are a big reason why.

Let's remember that Maye is an A-plus talent putting up these numbers with many C-plus and D-plus players around him at the skill positions. Imagine what Maye's numbers will look like when he continues to progress and when the Patriots actually surround him with talent. Maye's rushing numbers are pretty strong, but he can't continue leading the team in rushing yards game in and out.

If you're old enough to remember Grogan, he was as tough as it gets and a great athlete. Maye is a better version of that, so when he continues to fill out and attract talented players around him, it will get way scarier in Foxboro—and in a good way.

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