Drake Maye Deserves More MVP Respect - Even If Micah Parsons Isn’t Giving It
As we roll into Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season, the MVP race is heating up - and so is the debate. At the center of that conversation? Two quarterbacks with very different résumés and circumstances: 17-year veteran Matthew Stafford, and second-year sensation Drake Maye.
Stafford, fresh off a statement win over the Cardinals, has surged in recent MVP discussions. It’s a win that’s moved the needle for bettors and analysts alike, nudging the Rams’ signal-caller ahead of Maye in the eyes of many. But here’s the thing: while Stafford’s performance was impressive, Maye’s season shouldn’t be fading into the background - especially not now.
Let’s talk context. Stafford is operating behind a seasoned offensive line, throwing to a deep group of playmakers, and piloting one of the most complete rosters in the NFC.
Maye, on the other hand, is doing more with less. A lot less.
Coming into the season, expectations in New England were modest at best. Most projections had the Patriots topping out around eight wins.
That wasn’t pessimism - it was realism, given the roster’s youth and the lack of proven weapons around Maye. Yet here we are, and the Patriots already have 11 wins heading into Week 15.
That’s not just overachieving - that’s reshaping the narrative of a franchise many had written off as rebuilding.
Still, not everyone’s buying in. Case in point: Micah Parsons.
The All-Pro pass rusher recently dropped his top three MVP picks - and Maye didn’t make the cut. Instead, Parsons gave the nod to Matthew Stafford, current Packers QB Jordan Love, and former Cowboys teammate Dak Prescott.
That’s two quarterbacks with direct ties to Parsons, and one obvious front-runner. But no Maye.
Now, no one’s saying Stafford doesn’t deserve to be in the mix - he absolutely does. He’s playing smart, efficient football and leading a Rams team that looks poised for a deep postseason run.
But leaving Maye out of the conversation entirely? That’s a miss.
There’s been a lot of chatter about the Patriots’ schedule being “soft,” and that narrative has followed Maye like a shadow. But MVP isn’t about who you play - it’s about how you play.
And Maye’s been exceptional. He’s made clutch throws, elevated the players around him, and shown poise that belies his age and experience.
He’s not just managing games - he’s winning them.
And let’s not forget what “most valuable” truly means. It’s not just about stats or win totals.
It’s about impact. If Stafford were to miss time, the Rams - with their depth and talent - could likely stay afloat.
But if you take Maye out of the equation in New England? That’s a completely different team.
We’ve already seen what the Patriots look like without high-level quarterback play. It wasn’t pretty.
The MVP award is supposed to go to the player who means the most to his team. And by that measure, Maye absolutely belongs in the conversation.
He’s not just a promising young quarterback. He’s the engine behind one of the league’s most surprising success stories this season.
So while Parsons and others might be overlooking Maye for now, the numbers - and the wins - speak for themselves. And if Maye keeps playing at this level, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the league takes notice.
Whether or not he ends up holding the trophy, Drake Maye is already proving he’s one of the most valuable players in football. It’s time more people recognized it.