Patriots ready for Drake Maye jump: "He looks composed"

July 7, 2025

The New England Patriots are ‘ready for a Year 2 jump’ by star quarterback Drake Maye in 2025 following an impressive rookie season.

Drafted with the third overall pick in 2024, Maye was handed the starting QB job in Week 6 – earning Pro Bowl honors and quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s brightest young talents.

The 22-year-old threw for 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 13 games while rushing for 421 yards (7.8 yards per carry) despite New England not calling any designed runs for the former UNC signal-caller to protect his health in what was viewed a development year.

That rushing production was simply off scrambles, showcasing exceptional agility and balance in the pocket to extend plays and burn defenses – leading the NFL in that department since becoming a starter.

Maye has been likened to reigning MVP Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, standing at 6ft 4 in tall with a cannon of an arm to rival the very best dual-threat quarterbacks and there is no question he is the ultimate franchise cornerstone.

ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported the Patriots are excited by what they’ve seen from Maye ahead of training camp beginning later this month.

“Now, everything is calm and collected. [Maye] looks composed. So, they are ready for a Year 2 jump. They feel like they have more around him now.”

WATCH: Every passing touchdown by Drake Maye in 2024

Every Drake Maye passing touchdown in the 2024 season pic.twitter.com/DwGlobuCmw

— Pitless (@pitlessball) January 5, 2025

New England has every reason to be optimistic about the upcoming campaign. According to the top betting sites in Ireland, the Patriots are as short as 11/8 to make the playoffs.

The experienced Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player in Foxborough, takes over from Jerod Mayo as head coach.

Vrabel led the Tennessee Titans for six seasons from 2018 to 2023. He was named AP Coach of the Year in 2021 when the Titans clinched the #1 overall seed in the AFC.

The Titans reached their first AFC Championship in 17 seasons under Vrabel in 2019 and in 2020 won the AFC South for the first time since 2008.

The Patriots have enjoyed a successful offseason, adding veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the ranks – a former first-team All-Pro who led the league in receptions and receiving yards in 2020.

They also signed defensive tackle Milton Williams, coming off a Super Bowl triumph with the Philadelphia Eagles where he tallied five sacks and ten quarterback hits for the top-ranked defense last season.

In the draft, New England selected promising offensive tackle Will Campbell out of LSU at four. Running back TreVeyon Henderson and wideout Kyle Williams are also expected to make an instant impact.