'Tis the season for NFL prognostications, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) is in on the action. Drake Maye is the Patriots' best player, and the MVP runner-up is only getting started.
PFF has written on each NFL team's best reasons to be optimistic, and unsurprisingly, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is at the head of the Patriots' optimism class.
But Maye isn't the only reason PFF cited, as they also like several of the team's offseason acquisitions. They also feel that a much-maligned, second-year offensive left tackle, Will Campbell, is possibly on his way to a very good season now that he's over his knee injury.
PFF is one of the best analytical outfits in the business, and while nobody's perfect, they make a solid case for Patriot Nation to be optimistic in 2026. Unfortunately, they didn't cover any shortcomings in their article, and that's where the rubber may ultimately meet the road in the Patriots' 2026 season.
New England Patriots' Drake Maye is ready to roll in 2026
PFF hit the nail on the head in identifying Drake Maye as the top reason for Patriot Nation to feel optimistic. When you have the MVP-runner up (who deserved the award over the winner) who's maturing as a player and quarterback by leaps and bounds, why wouldn't his fanbase be optimistic?
"Drake Maye took a major step forward in his second NFL season, finishing the year with an 80.7 PFF grade that ranked eighth among quarterbacks. His 4.9% big-time throw rate ranked 11th in the league, and if he can cut down on the turnover-worthy plays...he could take another significant step forward in 2026. The Patriots dedicated the offseason to building around him, with the additions of A.J. Brown, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Romeo Doubs upgrading three key spots on offense."
Optimism is indeed rampant around Gillette Stadium this offseason and rightfully so. Maye is arguably the best passer in the NFL, and by the end of 2026, he may very well win the MVP award and emerge as the best quarterback in the league, period.
Interestingly, PFF in boosting Maye neglected to cite that his 2025 completion percentage led the NFL (he beat MVP Matthew Stafford by seven whole percentage points there!), as did his overall quarterback rating. Evidently, just minor exceptions. Regardless, Maye is a budding superstar, and PFF got his place at the top of the Patriots' heap right.
Their citing Brown, Doubs, and Vera-Tucker (though he's a major injury risk) are also solid observations. And their expectations for a healthy Will Campbell are likely to be spot on, as well. There's a lot to be optimistic about the 2026 Patriots, but they still have depth issues at edge, tight end, and guard.
If Mike Vrabel and his personnel team can remedy those deficiencies by kick-off on September 9 against Seattle, this season would look even more optimistic. Regardless, the Patriots now have a maturing 23-year-old Drake Maye at the helm, along with star receiver A.J. Brown.
Those two stars alone are very good reasons to be optimistic.
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