The impressive second-year jump of Drake Maye has been a consistent topic among Patriots fans this season, as few expected he would be as successful as he has been so early in his career. Although many predicted he would improve on his rookie year, the level he's at already, at just 23 years old, rivals some of the best second seasons by notable quarterbacks in NFL history.
Because of that, he was swiftly put into the MVP conversation for much of the season, eventually battling it out with 17-year veteran Matthew Stafford. The belief is that the Rams' quarterback will win his first MVP when the award is announced before the Super Bowl, despite Maye performing better in nearly every statistical measure.
It's likely why the second-year quarterback was named Second-Team All-Pro, while Stafford earned First-Team, becoming a sign of what's likely to come, since those with votes want to give the veteran a lifetime achievement award.
Thankfully for Patriots fans, ESPN recognizes the unfair nature of this year's MVP race and has decided to give the award to the player who embodies what the origin of Most Valuable Player meant to the league, and that means writer Seth Walder names Maye as the rightful heir.
ESPN awards Drake Maye the "real MVP" award over Matthew Stafford
While discussing all the reasons why Maye is more valuable to his team than Stafford is to the Rams, on top of the analytics that back up the claim that he is the MVP, Walder made sure to point out that Maye should be the real MVP, since the assumption is that he will not win the award next month.
On top of it all, he points out perhaps the most overlooked part of the entire conversation that tilts in Maye's favor: who he was working with compared to Stafford, making his achievements more impressive, as he's done more with far less.
"And metrics aren't the only reason I feel Maye is the clear MVP. He also did all this in more difficult circumstances relative to Stafford and the other top candidates. He did not have a superstar receiving group. He did not have a Hall of Fame playcaller.
And he was not supported by a super strong running game, a ton of play-action (25% of dropbacks vs. Stafford's 36%) or a great offensive line. Those factors are not fully captured by the efficiency and production metrics -- which makes Maye's season even more impressive."
When considering all the facts, statistics, analytics, and the acronym's literal meaning, it's not a close race. Therefore, Walder is correct in naming Maye the right MVP winner for the 2025 season.
It should be difficult for anyone to argue that his assertion is wrong, but it won't matter in the end, since the MVP votes have already been cast. They've all but confirmed that Stafford will win, despite not winning his division and having some of the best players and coaches to work with.
Regardless, although he won't be acknowledged for what he's done this season, and those outside New England will keep downplaying what he's accomplished, Maye is the future of the Patriots' offense and will hopefully be recognized as the league MVP at some point during his career.
At least for now, he is the MVP in the eyes of Patriots' fans, and while that doesn't mean much in terms of the actual award, it does mean New England is set up for success in the future and finally has the right quarterback to succeed Tom Brady.