The New England Patriots, under new Head Coach Mike Vrabel, hit the ground stumbling in their first three games. Since, they're taking the top of the NFL and are on a seven-game win streak. Patriots Hall of Famer and should-be Pro Football Hall of Famer, Julian Edelman, thinks that Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who was predicted to rock the NFL in 2025, is the NFL's MVP thus far.
What a difference an offseason and the addition of a top professional to run your football operation make. Maye was superb in his rookie season with all the cards stacked against him. He had no first-team reps at all until about game four of the regular season. He had a worst-in-the-NFL offensive line. And, his wide receiving corps stunk. Yet he still completed 66 percent of his passes.
Now Edelman is locked onto Drake Maye as the NFL's 2025 MVP thus far. Who should know better than this Patriots all-time great receiver, along with Stanley Morgan, and punt returner, along with Mike Haynes?
Drake Maye has set the NFL ablaze during the 2025 season so far
The run to the top of the AFC East, Vrabel's goal, and where the Patriots now sit have been fueled by Maye's accurate passing, a key element Edelman cited. That is joined by a few other considerations he feels put Maye at the top of the MVP conversation.
MVP? "It's got to be Drake Maye." - @Edelman11 pic.twitter.com/ZY9gdo2yjx
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 2, 2025
Edelman cites Maye's leading the NFL in completion percentage and deep balls, beating the mighty Bills (in Buffalo, no less), and that he's improving weekly. That last comment wasn't upheld after the win against the Falcons, 24-23, though. Nobody's perfect.
Drake Maye had a poor Falcons game, but he's still on top in completion percentage
Maye had a poor game (for him) in the win against the Falcons. His line was 19 for 29 for 259 yards and a meager (for Maye) 65.5 percent completion rate with two touchdowns, an interception, and a costly fumble. It was an off game for the second-year quarterback, but his team won the game. He'll regroup, focus on playing a clean game, and be ready for the Bucs next Sunday.
The second-year quarterback's completion percentage, even with that off-performance, is still at 74.1 percent for the season. That still leads the NFL in this critically important and often underestimated stat. Additionally, it keeps him in range of the NFL's all-time best single-season completion percentage of 74.4 percent, set in 2018 by the Saints' Drew Brees.
Yet, the most compelling stat for a Maye MVP designation is his team's record. The Patriots are 7-2, tied with the Colts and Broncos for the best record in the NFL. No one doubts that Maye is the single most valuable member of his team, as evidenced by the Patriots' record.
Julian Edelman is right. Drake Maye is leading the NFL's MVP race. If Maye and his team continue this level of excellence the rest of the season, Maye will be right in the middle of the NFL's MVP discussion then, as well. Bank on it.