The New England Patriots entered the offseason fresh off a Super Bowl trip, but with some issues to fix. Besides adding another weapon for Drake Maye and more bodies to the pass-rushing unit, the offensive line was also a bit of a concern.
Will Campbell was a mixed bag as a rookie, and they added Alijah Vera-Tucker, James Hudson, and rookie Caleb Lomu to the mix. On paper, this unit should be stronger and more dynamic than what they fielded last season, but paper doesn't win football games.
Fortunately for the Patriots, they happen to have an elite quarterback when facing pressure. As shown by Fantasy Football analyst Scott Barrett, Maye is actually the second-best quarterback in the league when pressured.
Drake Maye's prowess under pressure gives the Patriots some insurance
Jared Goff is the most pressure-sensitive QB in football
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) August 4, 2026
Over the last three years, Goff leads all QBs in EPA/DB from a clean pocket. Falls to 3rd-worst when under pressure.
The type of dude to start stuttering when he's next in line at Chipotle@FantasyPtsData pic.twitter.com/dTQywr7FSu
Over the past three years, Maye trails only Josh Allen and is even ahead of Patrick Mahomes in EPA per dropback under pressure (-0.05). Conversely, he's not that far behind when playing in a clean pocket, ranking fourth with a +0.36 EPA per dropback.
Of course, the Patriots would rather have him staying in a clean pocket with some time and space to operate, but that's not always the case. Even with an improved offensive line, they'll face tougher defenses in 2026, and it's refreshing and reassuring to know that they can count on their quarterback to get the job done under pressure.
Maye is still learning the ropes of the position, and this is probably the worst he'll ever be. He didn't do well in the playoffs, but he's taken that as a learning experience and looks like someone who's not only thirsty for revenge but actually longing for it.
Giving him improved pass-protection can unleash a new level of his already impressive game, and with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs roaming free in the open field, the best is yet to come for Josh McDaniels' offense.
Not many quarterbacks can excel in those situations, but Maye's mobility and quick feet help him avoid hits and find the open guy in stride, knowing when to use his strength and when to add touch to layered throws.
He's also tough as nails and not afraid to take a hit to give his guy an extra fraction of a second to get to his spot.
The Patriots will have a tougher schedule in 2026, but they will also have a better team. Also, continuity matters, and a second full training camp under Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff should work wonders to polish what didn't work last season.
That said, sometimes this game is as simple as "whoever has the better quarterback will win," and by every objective measure, Drake Maye can already sit on the big boy's table and put his team on his shoulders.
Add us as a preferred source on Google