The New England Patriots have selected their next potential franchise quarterback. They have moved on from the Mac Jones era, drafting North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall pick. Maye had a stellar 2022 season and did not have as good of a 2023 campaign.
The quarterback threw for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a completion percentage of 66.2%. In the 2023 season, Maye threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a completion percentage of 63.3%.
While Drake Maye does not have quite as much hype as USC quarterback and first-overall pick Caleb Williams or second-overall pick Jayden Daniels, the North Carolina quarterback is still a great player and is a huge step up from what the Patriots have had the past two years.
A New Potential Franchise QB For The New England Patriots
After a great rookie season, former Patriots quarterback Mac Jones fell off hard. He was not completing as many throws as he did in his rookie year and overall seemed to lack confidence and decisiveness with throws. Midway through the 2023 season, the Patriots and their fans were looking to move on from the former Alabama quarterback. That is when Pats Nation started to think about who their next quarterback would be.
If the Patriots tanked hard enough, they might have been able to get the second overall pick and get LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. However, number three is where they fell in the draft, and they should be pretty proud of this pick.
Drake Maye’s Draft Profile
The 6’4 223 lb quarterback has the prototypical size and arm strength to succeed in the NFL. According to Next Gen Stats, his athleticism score is 86, which is 4th among quarterbacks.
Drake Maye’s size and arm talent are instant positives and the traits that jump out the most about him. There is a fearlessness about him with throwing that can turn into interceptions. However, this also means that he can complete throws into tight windows. He climbs the pocket quickly and has the discipline to continue searching for open receivers to throw to.
Drake Maye Was named the 2022 ACC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. He was also named Second Team All-ACC in 2023.
A new era in New England has started. Now, the New England Patriots need to get Drake Maye some better wide receivers to throw to. Having Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas as your two top wide receivers is not going to work well in the NFL. Another need for the New England Patriots is the offensive line. Look for the Patriots to address wide receiver and offensive line later in the draft.
About The Author
Cooper Sherman is an avid NFL fan and enjoys watching and covering it the most. The NFL is king. He previously wrote and was a podcaster for the online publications Pro Sports Fanatics and Jersey Column. He is also an NBA fan and watches it occasionally, more when the NFL season ends. Tennis is also an underrated sport to watch. His teams are the Patriots and Celtics, as tough as it is to be a Patriots fan right now. He is optimistic that Jerod Mayo will turn this team in the right direction! Follow him on Instagram and Threads @coopstershermy456, and X/Twitter @justcoopthings.
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