Pats Pulpit
Previewing the Patriots quarterback heading into his second season in the NFL.
The New England Patriots found themselves at a dead end at quarterback heading into the 2024 offseason. Neither Mac Jones nor Bailey Zappe had shown that they can carry the franchise into the future, and after a 4-13 season were both headed out the door. A restart was needed, and it came via the third overall selection in that year’s draft.
Drake Maye out of North Carolina was brought in hopes of reinvigorating an organization that had not won a postseason game in five straight seasons and had become a shell of its former dynastic self. While Maye did not lead New England back to the playoffs as a rookie, he did provide something the team had been missing for a while: hope.
Name: Drake Maye
Position: Quarterback
Jersey number: 10
Opening day age: 23 (8/30/2002)
Measurements: 6’4 3/8”, 225 lbs, 76 1/8” wingspan 32 1/4” arm length, 9 1/8” hand size, N/A Relative Athletic Score
NFL: New England Patriots (2024-) | College: North Carolina (2021-23)
Growing up as the youngest of four brothers in a family of athletes, Maye started playing football at age 4. He later attended William Amos Hough High School in Cornelius, NC, as a freshman before transferring to Myers Park in Charlotte, NC. He won the Mustangs’ starting quarterback job right away, and ended his prep career with 6,713 passing yards as well as 86 touchdowns — all while also playing basketball at an All-District level.
A four-star recruit, Maye drew interest from some of the most prestigious colleges in the country from early in his high school career. He originally committed to Alabama, but later changed course and stayed home at the University of North Carolina.
After attempting only 10 passes as a freshman and eventually redshirting, Maye took over as the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback during his 2022 sophomore campaign. He burst onto the scene right away and after throwing for 4,321 yards with 38 TDs and 7 INTs received ACC Player of the Year honors, among other accolades. The following season saw a dip in production, in large part due to several departures on offense, but Maye still finished his junior campaign with a respectable 3,608 passing yards as well as 24 TDs and 9 INTs.
Despite having two years of eligibility left, Maye decided to leave school after the 2023 season. He ended up getting selected third overall by the Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft, making him one of six quarterbacks picked in the first round.
And while he did not open his rookie campaign as a starter, he still managed to show why he was a highly-touted prospect coming out. A true dual-threat, Maye showed considerable promise in his 12 starts during the 2024 season.
Strengths: Combining ideal size and athletic ability, Maye is a prototypical modern day NFL quarterback. He can perform within the structure of a play...
