The season may be only three games old, but signs of second-year growth from New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye are flashing right before our eyes. Even though Maye and the Patriots have lost two of their first three games, they've outplayed their opponents in all three games, with turnovers and penalties the prime factors in the losses to Las Vegas and Pittsburgh.
Through Week 3, Maye is fifth in the NFL in passing yards with 785, averaging just over 260 per game. He's thrown for more yards than Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Jordan Love. The Patriots' signal-caller is earning the respect of his teammates and his coaches, and he's getting a firm grasp on Josh McDaniels' offense.
#Patriots QB Drake Maye among NFL QBs (via @FantasyPtsData):
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) September 23, 2025
🔹5 Passing Touchdowns (T-4th)
🔹785 Passing Yards (5th)
🔹81.1% Catchable Throw Rate (3rd)
🔹72.6% Completion Rate (2nd)
🔹83.8% Adjusted Completion Rate (2nd)
🔹9.4% Completion Over Expectation (1st)
The future. pic.twitter.com/DyD9qRZjYg
While Maye still needs to clean up some of the turnovers - he has two interceptions and a lost fumble in three games - it's clear the Patriots have their quarterback of the present and the future. Thanks to a rebuilt offensive line, Maye looks less skittish in the pocket. Even though he's been sacked 12 times, many of those were coverage sacks.
The small question is, are the Patriots asking Maye to do too much too soon?
Drake Maye's numbers are great, but New England needs to run the ball better
While Maye has been rock-solid under center, New England's running game has been inconsistent. The Patriots are 19th in the league in rushing (100.3 yards per game, four yards per carry). Their running backs have just one touchdown, while Rhamondre Stevenson lost two fumbles, including one at the goal line, in New England's loss to Pittsburgh last week.
There's no reason why the Patriots can't do both things successfully. Stevenson needs to hang on to the ball better, and McDaniels needs to find a way to get TreVeyon Henderson more carries.
On the other side of the coin, a team will only go as far as its quarterback will take it, and the Patriots are in a solid situation with Maye under center. There are a lot of teams in the league with quarterback controversies, and New England isn't one of them.
Maye's 101.3 rating is good for ninth in the league, and that includes a solid 119.3 against the blitz, a category in which he was dead last as a rookie. The rebuilt offensive line, which started with the drafting of Will Campbell, is a big part of that.
Maye is getting better. The Patriots are moving the ball much better. They just need to start cashing in, and that will come.