Pro Football Focus has joined the chorus of optimism around the Patriots, and it starts with Drake Maye.
The quarterback is the clear centerpiece of New England’s outlook, and PFF’s annual look at each team’s best reasons for hope put Maye right at the top for the Patriots. That makes sense. He’s the MVP runner-up, and he’s still early in the climb.
PFF pointed to a second-year leap from Maye as the biggest reason for belief in 2026. In its assessment, the quarterback posted an 80.7 PFF grade last season, good for eighth among quarterbacks, while his 4.9% big-time throw rate ranked 11th in the league.
The key, as PFF sees it, is cleaning up the turnover-worthy plays. If that happens, another jump is on the table next season.
The Patriots have also spent the offseason trying to make life easier around him. PFF highlighted the additions of A.J.
Brown, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Romeo Doubs as upgrades at three important spots on offense. Those moves help explain why the mood around Gillette Stadium has been so upbeat.
There’s also belief that Will Campbell can turn a corner. PFF sees the much-maligned second-year offensive left tackle as a candidate for a very good season now that he’s past his knee injury. That’s another piece of the optimism puzzle for a team trying to build something sturdier around its young quarterback.
PFF’s case for the Patriots is strong, even if it doesn’t address the roster’s soft spots. New England still has depth concerns at edge, tight end and guard, and those issues matter. Mike Vrabel and his personnel staff still have work to do before kickoff on September 9 against Seattle.
Still, the big-picture takeaway is obvious: the Patriots have a maturing 23-year-old Drake Maye at the helm, and that alone gives the season a very different feel.
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Patriots May Have Found An Unusual Roster Keeper In Behren Morton
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Morton sits seventh on the depth chart, yet his value may extend beyond the usual emergency quarterback label. He helped lead a game-winning drive in a preseason win and also brings backup punter versatility, which gives New England something a little uncommon to consider as roster decisions get tighter. For a team that likes functional depth, Morton has at least made it interesting. [Read more 🡒]