Drake Maye has arrived . . .

[KCSVEN]

Serious question:
When was the last time Maye threw the ball away to avoid the sack?

Interesting stat comparison:
Bo Nix has attempted 67 more passes than Maye (322 vs 255) this season and been sacked 25 times less (9 vs 34)
Note:
Nix averages 2.9 yds/completion less than Maye. Each with 17 TD passes.

He did throw the ball away at least twice in the last game. Rolled right in red zone and threw out of bounds. Also, from inside his own 10 he overthrew down the middle on purpose to avoid the sack.

Damn you, I just had to rewatch all-22 of every Drake Maye sack! On a positive note I was surprised how many sacks are not really on Maye but there are instances he could have thrown it away but fewer than I thought.
I think Falcons and Steelers games are an outlier for him but also look at what other QB's did against the Falcons specifically. Josh Allen had 4 sacks and 2 picks for example.

Bo Nix on passes 10+ yards
41% completion, 10 TD's and 6 picks and 81.51 rating.

Drake Maye on 10+ yards passing:
67% complete, 10 TD and 3 picks 119.8 rating.

Interesting stats:

Maye sacks and average yards lost:
Last 3 games: 5.33 sacks per game, 6.06 yards per sack lost
Middle 3 games : 2 sacks per game, 1.16 yards per sack lost
First 3 games: 4 sacks per game, 4 yards per sack lost.

16 of his 34 sacks lose 3 yards or less. 47%

I 100% agree Maye takes too many sacks, and I expect he'll improve slightly on this over time but the fact he throws down the field and has to carry the team also plays a bit into that. Maye as a prospect was someone who took slightly too many sacks. That continues so far as a pro but he's not Caleb Williams where it is that detrimental to overall results.

Browns (or Myles Garret in particular) and Falcons just being the best pass defenses he's faced probably has more to do with the last 3 games being the worst statistically (Titans game sacks were not on Maye other than the 0 yard sack).

Sack % ranking for defense: Bills 2, Browns 3, Falcons 5, Steelers 11, and Titans 12 are the teams they played in top 15. Maye top 3 sacked games: Browns, Falcons, Steelers.

Remaining Schedule and NFL rank for sack % defense:
Bucs: 10
Jets: 28
Bengals: 29
Giants: 23
Bills: 2
Ravens: 30
Dolphins: 20

 

[p8ryts]

He did throw the ball away at least twice in the last game. Rolled right in red zone and threw out of bounds. Also, from inside his own 10 he overthrew down the middle on purpose to avoid the sack.

Damn you, I just had to rewatch all-22 of every Drake Maye sack! On a positive note I was surprised how many sacks are not really on Maye but there are instances he could have thrown it away but fewer than I thought.
I think Falcons and Steelers games are an outlier for him but also look at what other QB's did against the Falcons specifically. Josh Allen had 4 sacks and 2 picks for example.

Bo Nix on passes 10+ yards
41% completion, 10 TD's and 6 picks and 81.51 rating.

Drake Maye on 10+ yards passing:
67% complete, 10 TD and 3 picks 119.8 rating.

Interesting stats:

Maye sacks and average yards lost:
Last 3 games: 5.33 sacks per game, 6.06 yards per sack lost
Middle 3 games : 2 sacks per game, 1.16 yards per sack lost
First 3 games: 4 sacks per game, 4 yards per sack lost.

16 of his 34 sacks lose 3 yards or less. 47%

I 100% agree Maye takes too many sacks, and I expect he'll improve slightly on this over time but the fact he throws down the field and has to carry the team also plays a bit into that. Maye as a prospect was someone who took slightly too many sacks. That continues so far as a pro but he's not Caleb Williams where it is that detrimental to overall results.

Browns (or Myles Garret in particular) and Falcons just being the best pass defenses he's faced probably has more to do with the last 3 games being the worst statistically (Titans game sacks were not on Maye other than the 0 yard sack).

Sack % ranking for defense: Bills 2, Browns 3, Falcons 5, Steelers 11, and Titans 12 are the teams they played in top 15. Maye top 3 sacked games: Browns, Falcons, Steelers.

Remaining Schedule and NFL rank for sack % defense:
Bucs: 10
Jets: 28
Bengals: 29
Giants: 23
Bills: 2
Ravens: 30
Dolphins: 20

We don't need to overreact after one game against a good secondary. It was a beneficial experience before facing the Bucs defense.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/11/08/drake-maye-patriots/

Here's the opening vignette.

On the drive home to Charlotte in January, Drake Maye’s truck broke down on the side of Interstate 95. It should not have surprised him. Maye’s high school coach had told him he ought to replace his 2015 GMC pickup, the same one Maye used at Myers Park High. He obviously could afford a new ride, having signed for a $20 million bonus when the New England Patriots drafted him third overall in hopes he would rescue their franchise.

Maye, though, has an aversion to ostentation. He didn’t buy a new car when he became a professional. He didn’t even replace his old truck after it failed him. When Maye goes to work at Gillette Stadium — where he is the beating heart of the New England Patriots, a sudden MVP candidate and the spiritual successor to the greatest quarterback in NFL history — he still drives the same truck.

And one other tidbit.

He was the fourth product, and Maye’s brothers explain so much about him. Luke will sometimes walk past Drake, flash his NCAA national championship ring and say: “Here’s mine. Where’s yours?”

 

[Betterthanmost]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/11/08/drake-maye-patriots/

Here's the opening vignette.



And one other tidbit.

hmmm... loving the kid. my type of human.

After Maye was named national freshman of the year, North Carolina planned to add his name to the Kenan Stadium wall where it lists award winners. Maye halted the commemoration. “No, wait until I’m gone,” Brown recalled Maye saying. “That would be very uncomfortable for my teammates who helped me get those awards to see my name go up.”

 

[SVN]

 

[PP2]

He was the fourth product, and Maye’s brothers explain so much about him. Luke will sometimes walk past Drake, flash his NCAA national championship ring and say: “Here’s mine. Where’s yours?”

Here's hoping that someday Drake will walk by Luke and flash his NFL championship ring and say: "Here's mine. Where's yours?"

 

[NFL Mystique]

The Patriots need a Faulk, Vereen or White type RB who can catch passes out of the backfield. Dinking and dunking is not a bad thing. These long developing pass plays increase the likelihood of bad plays/injuries.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

The Patriots need a Faulk, Vereen or White type RB who can catch passes out of the backfield. Dinking and dunking is not a bad thing. These long developing pass plays increase the likelihood of bad plays/injuries.

Treveyon Henderson

 

[bormio]

The kid’s got IT. Not sure was IT is - but he has it.

 

[Uptown]

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

I think he has made huge strides under McDaniel...so give him alot of credit...

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Very audible mvp chants in an away stadium. Hopefully becomes a regular thing

 

[varjao]

All he does is win

 

[Shed83]

Really poor decision for the EZ interception but it might have something to do with getting his bell rung on that head hunting hit the play previous!!

These are all learning curves for Drake. Hope he can keep improving!!

 

[Uptown]

 

[NFL Mystique]

Is the date wrong in the graphic? It says October 13th.

It's also time to give a separate MVP awards to QB's. And give the other to the league MVP. If there isn't a league MVP, fine. One need not be named.

Jonathan Taylor should be near the top in MVP odds

 

[Ring 6]

Really poor decision for the EZ interception but it might have something to do with getting his bell rung on that head hunting hit the play previous!!

These are all learning curves for Drake. Hope he can keep improving!!

Not sure it was a bad decision as much as he just didn’t see the defender underneath. **** happens. You can’t make a lot of plays with making a mistake now and then.

 

[lancerman]

The Patriots need a Faulk, Vereen or White type RB who can catch passes out of the backfield. Dinking and dunking is not a bad thing. These long developing pass plays increase the likelihood of bad plays/injuries.

They really just need a Welker/Edelman type who can be the safety valve that is automatic. Brady would just start spamming them to get momentum if he was in a rut early to build some rhythm.

 

[lancerman]

Not sure it was a bad decision as much as he just didn’t see the defender underneath. **** happens. You can’t make a lot of plays with making a mistake now and then.

Tbf the bigger problem with that was the situational awareness, not the process of him scrambling or throwing. You need to know when the sack or throw away is better. That was a situation where you only throw the ball if you know it's completely safe.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

All he does is win

And THAT is all I care about TBO.
"Just Win Baby"