Looking back on the Patriots' 2024 season, there aren't many positives to take away, which is why they were in the market for a new head coach and a significant roster overhaul this offseason. Based on what we've seen so far, it appears they have the right people in place, and the most clear-cut of all continues to be at quarterback.
With a top-3 pick for the first time since drafting Drew Bledsoe over 30 years ago, the Patriots were in a good spot to select their next franchise player, but the odds of that becoming a reality were not in their favor. Fortunately, Drake Maye appears to be all that and more, and we saw that on display against the Bills on Sunday Night, as the quarterback helped lead the team to a sneaky win.
It's the one aspect of the Mayo era that fans will be forever grateful for, even if the rest of the season is one most would like to forget. It's clear that Maye is here for the long haul, and the Patriots won't have to worry about finding their next quarterback for quite some time, especially when he makes incredible throws that could only rival Patrick Mahomes in 2025.
Insane that this throw landed perfectly-placed here. pic.twitter.com/OtH3BghJA1
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) October 6, 2025
Luckily for the Patriots, Maye continued to step it up in the second half, just as the team needed him to put the game on his back to steal a win in Buffalo.
Drake Maye put the NFL on notice with Tom Brady-like performance on SNF
Despite his initial nerves at the start of the game and for most of the first half, Maye emerged as a different player after halftime and put on an absolute clinic for the NFL world to see, immediately making the league's worst nightmare come to life.
Perhaps the most noteworthy play came in the fourth quarter, as Maye made a ridiculous throw to Stefon Diggs to move the chains and increase their chances of scoring before the Bills got the ball back.
.@DrakeMaye2 WHAT. A. PLAY.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2025
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/BeMtrCb3Y2
If a quarterback in just his 17th NFL start is able to pull off plays like this, what will he be able to do with more experience under his belt?
There were numerous questions surrounding Maye when he entered the draft, most of which centered on his limited experience compared to the other quarterbacks in the class and his age. None of that appears to be a problem so far, as he continues to thrive and improve each week, thankfully now under the watchful eye of a great head coach and offensive coordinator.
He still managed to perform well as a rookie under Mayo and Alex Van Pelt, but it was nothing compared to what we are seeing this year. Regardless, it will always be something fans will have to thank Mayo for, because if it weren't for him and Eliot Wolf, Maye would likely be on another team, and the Patriots would still need a quarterback.