The New England Patriots sit at 1-1 on the season, and while there are plenty of questions still to be answered, Drake Maye isn't one of them. Maye has been a key reason the Patriots have been competitive in both games so far, totaling over 500 passing yards and four total touchdowns, to just one interception.
Not only is the former UNC Tarheel looking good on the field, but he's also become a leader in the locker room, being named a captain in his second season. Aside from wearing the "C" on his chest, teammates are starting to notice Maye's desire to continue to improve and his leadership --- a very positive sign of things to come for the young signal caller.
Christian Gonzalez spoke on the second year man during his appearance on Good Morning Football.
#Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez on Drake Maye:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) September 16, 2025
“He’s really made that leadership change… He’s speaking a lot more… It was fun to watch him in camp and see what he’s done so far. The best thing for him is he always wants to get better.”
(🎥 @gmfb)pic.twitter.com/QyYr9CzL5K
Maye becoming a stronger voice and vocal leader in the locker room is key. We've all seen the stories about J.J. McCarthy's grit that led to the Vikings' comeback win against the Bears in Week 1, and determination and leadership like that will be key for Maye going forward, especially considering the team's dismal 1-5 division record last year. Maye has already matched that win total two weeks into the year.
What will Year 2 continue to look like for Patriots QB Drake Maye?
We've already seen a mini-jump from Maye in Year 2. There's no doubt he needs to continue improving: his passing has been inconsistent, and even some of his completions are questionable. He hasn't had too many turnover-worthy plays, which is nice to see, compared to last season when he let the ball fly.
The offensive line has performed best in pass protection, with four out of five starters recording 80+ PFF pass-blocking grades in Week 2. This, combined with Maye's spectacular talent, should lend itself to plenty of throwing the ball throughout the year, and that's what we've seen so far. Maye is tenth in the league in attempts through two weeks, ahead of Patrick Mahomes, Matt Stafford, and Justin Herbert.
A few weeks ago, I predicted Maye might have around 4,000 passing yards, or 235 yards a game. His 253.5 per game would push him over that mark. I also mentioned 30 total touchdowns, and he's on pace for 34. If he were to throw an interception every other game, he'd hit nine for the year, less than my 13 INT prediction.
While the team has been a mixed bag, Maye is exactly where fans hoped he'd be.