Drake Maye’s rise in 2025 has already put him in rare company, but the Patriots quarterback is still drawing a wide range of opinions around the league.
After finishing second in MVP voting, earning a Pro Bowl nod and a second-team All-Pro selection, Maye was voted the eighth-best quarterback in the NFL in ESPN’s survey of more than 70 coaches, scouts and executives. His placement wasn’t uniform, either - some evaluators had him as high as fifth, while others slotted him outside the top 10.
One NFL coordinator pointed to the full package when explaining why Maye belongs near the top of the position.
“Size, athleticism, accuracy, playmaking upside through the roof, poise and toughness,” an NFL coordinator said. “He had zero weapons and a shaky OL, and made it all work.”
Still, seven quarterbacks landed ahead of him. The list featured the expected heavy hitters - Josh Allen at No.
1, Patrick Mahomes at No. 2, Matthew Stafford at No. 3 and Lamar Jackson at No. 5 - along with Joe Burrow at No.
4, Dak Prescott at No. 6 and Justin Herbert at No. 7.
Not everyone was ready to push Maye higher just yet. A veteran NFC defensive coach said the quarterback’s résumé still needs more time to grow.
“He’s really talented, but I need to see more,” a veteran NFC defensive coach said. “Other quarterbacks on this list have proven it over time, and he’s got to keep doing it.”
For the Patriots, though, the bigger picture is already clear: they’ve got a franchise-caliber quarterback to build around. Where Maye lands on an offseason ranking doesn’t change that.
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