New England Patriots fans are starting to say, “Tom Bady who?” Well, not really, but it looks like the franchise that dominated the league for two decades behind the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback has drafted their next guy in 2024 NFL Daft No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye.
Selected behind No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, Maye didn’t dominate the headlines during his rookie season the way both of those players (Williams more negatively) did nor did he get the attention Bo Nix got in leading the Denver Broncos to the playoffs during his rookie season, but there was an undercurrent of excitement when Maye finally stepped on the field in 2024.
Despite another porous season for the Patriots, Maye sparkled at times with his arm talent and ability to make plays with his legs. With a change at head coach and more talent around him, the question in the offseason centered around Maye’s growth as a quarterback.
Drake Maye has the Patriots back at the top of the AFC
After a sluggish start to the 2025 NFL season, the second-year quarterback out of North Carolina has led the Patriots to a 11-2 record with his accuracy and leadership. In doing so has fans chanting “MVP” and sports talk personalities like Colin Cowherd singing his praises.
On Tuesday, Cowherd made a proclamation that was sweet sports talk music to the ears of Patriots fans and Maye supporters by calling him an “all-timer”.
"You get a franchise quarterback every year. You get an all-timer about every 4 or 5 years. I think we found one."@colincowherd thinks Drake Maye has a chance to be special in New England pic.twitter.com/i9t9S6nI3V
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 2, 2025
“Drake Maye, it’s a different discussion. He looks like he’s gonna be one of these guys about every four years that enters the league and is an all-timer,” Cowherd praised. “Size, arm, IQ. I mean Drake Maye, he just doesn’t miss.”
The Prototypical size that made Maye a top 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has made him an elusive quarterback in the pocket, but its more his accuracy and decision making that has stood out in what has become a great season for the Patriots which Cowherd really raved about.
“Stoic, not a lot of bad throws, not getting hit,” Cowherd continued. “You get a franchise quarterback every year. You get an all-timer about every four or five years. I think we found one. He is on pace to be the greatest quarterback on first down in the history of the game for a single season.”
While the 2024 NFL Draft could turn out to be a historic draft for NFL quarterbacks, Maye is rising and could rise as the top QB of the group.
Yes, Caleb Williams has the Bears on top of the NFL and Daniels is still Daniels when healthy, but Drake Maye has that “it” factor that puts him in a different category. As he proved in the first matchup against the Buffalo Bills, he can make clutch plays in big games. Whether he takes home the league’s MVP trophy in his second NFL season or not, Maye will really have an opportunity to prove himself and Cowherd right by taking the Patriot on a deep playoff run.
If he gets them to the AFC Championship Game or even into the Super Bowl, he will be the top QB of that draft class. Better yet, will establish himself as a top 5 QB in the NFL.
Don’t @ me!