New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has been selected for his first NFL Pro Bowl. Maye was not initially voted into the Pro Bowl; however, due to other players opting out of the competition, Maye and Russell Wilson were chosen as replacements. This selection has split the opinions of fans around the NFL. Patriots fans are happy for Drake Maye and hope this will be the first of many Pro Bowls for the young quarterback. But others feel that Maye’s selection was not earned and should have gone to another quarterback.
Drake Maye’s Season
Drake Maye’s rookie season was promising. He threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. While the Patriots were not a good team, finishing with a 4-13 record, Maye was a bright spot. He showed flashes of arm talent and scrambling ability. His dual-threat skills opened up a dormant offense and made explosive plays possible. Maye could hit deep throws that were not part of the offense beforehand and make plays with his legs in case the pocket broke down, which happened often. He was prone to the occasional turnover or interception, but as far as the Patriots were concerned, the good outweighed the bad.
The New England offense did not turn a corner under Drake Maye, but he made it much better. With an offensive line that gave up more pressure than most units in the NFL, and a receiving core full of rookies and journeymen, Maye made the most of what he got. When compared to Jacoby Brissett, Maye was the much better option. He averaged more passing yards per attempt, more passing yards per game, a better completion percentage, and a better passer rating. Due to the talent, the New England offense was never excellent, but Drake Maye made them much more competitive in his flashy rookie season.
Controversial Selection
Drake Maye’s rookie season turned many heads. While he didn’t start enough games to garner Rookie of the Year hype, fans around the NFL recognized the talent and potential there. But opinions quickly began to differ once Maye’s Pro Bowl selection was announced. Many fans believed that the selection was premature and that other AFC quarterbacks were far more deserving. Oddly, the rookie did not start enough games to contend for Rookie of the Year, but enough to qualify for the Pro Bowl. It has made fans around the league consider the integrity of the modern Pro Bowl with so many opt-outs and replacements.
In the AFC, the original quarterbacks selected for the Pro Bowl were Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow. Jackson and Allen opted out, while Patrick Mahomes is ineligible because of the Super Bowl. But there are still other quarterbacks in the AFC who could have gone over Maye or Wilson. Justin Herbert, CJ Stroud, and fellow rookie Bo Nix were touted by fans as more qualified. Herbert especially feels like an egregious snub. Many will remember his poor playoff performance, but he had a very efficient season for the Chargers.
Drake Maye in the Pro Bowl
Even with the questionable Pro Bowl selection, Drake Maye had a very promising rookie season. And this is not the first, and likely won’t be the last odd Pro Bowler. In past years, players like Tyler Huntley and Mac Jones have made Pro Bowls, so the selection of Drake Maye is not breaking any barrier that wasn’t already broken. The Pro Bowl has already been watered down over recent years with voting and player opt-outs, and Maye should at least bring some excitement to the game. Hopefully it is not the last Pro Bowl in the career of Drake Maye.
