Drake Maye, the former North Carolina quarterback, had a standout season that nearly snagged him the NFL MVP award. As the 2024 No. 3 pick, Maye threw for an impressive 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. His dual-threat ability was on full display, adding 450 rushing yards and four touchdowns to his stat sheet, guiding the New England Patriots to an AFC East title and a Super Bowl appearance.
However, the postseason spotlight revealed some cracks in Maye's game that he’ll need to address. Despite a gritty AFC Championship win over the Denver Broncos, where the Patriots edged out a 10-7 victory against backup QB Jarrett Stidham, the Super Bowl was a different story.
The Seattle Seahawks outmatched the Patriots, winning 29-13, with Maye struggling under pressure. Even when given time, he missed open targets, highlighting areas for growth in decision-making and ball security.
Tom E. Curran from NBC Boston pointed out that Maye needs to improve his ability to protect the ball and avoid unnecessary sacks.
The young quarterback's playoff performance saw a dip, especially in passing, which was somewhat offset by his running game. Yet, this wasn't enough to overcome the challenges faced in the Super Bowl.
As defenses tighten up in the postseason, the pressure mounts, and Maye’s struggles became more apparent. The Patriots are eyeing improvements to their offensive line in the offseason, with decisions looming about keeping Will Campbell at left tackle. But ultimately, Maye must learn to release the ball more quickly to avoid sacks.
Despite improvements in ball handling during the regular season, where he reduced his fumbles significantly, the playoffs told a different tale. Maye recorded seven fumbles in four postseason games, and his sack numbers skyrocketed-21 in the postseason compared to 47 in the regular season.
The Patriots and Maye have their work cut out for them, but with adjustments, there’s potential for even greater success next season.