After completing one of the most impressive second seasons by a quarterback in recent memory, expectations are extremely high for Drake Maye going into 2026.
Not only was he among the most accurate quarterbacks in the league last year, but he also fell just short of winning the MVP Award to Rams' QB Matthew Stafford, which says a lot about the kind of season he had.
Going into Year 3, he will finally have the same head coach and offensive staff, which has many believing we have yet to see his best football. Knowing how well Josh McDaniels works with quarterbacks, it's fair to assume that Maye will continue his rise to superstardom this fall.
In fact, his teammates are already hyping him up well before the season even begins, with the latest being one of Maye's most reliable targets on game day, tight end Hunter Henry. He has consistently sung his praises since he was drafted, but he's taken it to a new level with his latest take, which is somewhat of a warning to the rest of the NFL.
Hunter Henry's latest praise for Drake Maye is far from what the rest of the NFL wants to hear
As OTAs began last month, Henry spoke about the quarterback to reporters, specifically highlighting what he feels is the most underrated part of Maye's performance and progression.
Unsurprisingly, he emphasized that he will benefit from working with the same offensive coordinator and, as a result, will have a better understanding of the offense, which will only elevate his game.
"I think the underrated thing he has this year is obviously going into Year 2 in the system is big. This system demands a lot on the quarterback position. To have a whole offseason to be in the same scheme and really build on what he did last year, I'm excited to see the jump and progress he can make on a day-to-day basis."
That understanding of McDaniels' offense and his comfort level with it in Year 2 will be immediately tested as the Patriots take on the Seahawks in a Super Bowl LX rematch to kick off the upcoming season.
Because the championship game went so poorly for offense back in February, the rematch will be a true test for the entire roster, with Maye leading the way. Fortunately, several upgrades were made to the offensive line, and more improvements are expected to be made to the receiving corps, with a trade for AJ Brown looming, which will only make the job easier.
Although it will inevitably put a lot of pressure on Maye's shoulders, he's already dealt with worse, having led the Patriots to an undefeated road record, to their first division title in five years, and defied the odds all the way to the Super Bowl.
He's shown he can handle the spotlight, and now that he will have the most consistency with the team that he's had thus far in his career, there's reason to believe he will play even better in 2026.
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