The New England Patriots have fallen off a cliff since the days of being the greatest dynasty of all time. It is clear that this offense needs to be completely blown up and rebuilt. The only upside to the tank of 2023 is that the Patriots now hold the number three pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Putting them in prime position to revamp their offense. A potential fit in Foxborough could be Drake Maye, quarterback from North Carolina.
Drake Maye looks like he was built in a lab to play the quarterback position. Standing at 6’4” and weighing in at 230 lbs, he has the size to take hits from anybody in the league. Even at this size he has freak athleticism and speed. When the pocket breaks down around him, he can scramble and make plays with his legs and he frequently did just that at North Carolina. He is a very good play maker and has the potential to elevate the whole team around him which is exactly what New England desperately needs right now.
Maye continues to show off his incredible talent and draws comparisons to some elite NFL quarterbacks. Some of the off platform throws he makes resemble a prime Green Bay Aaron Rodgers, the way he runs the ball when he needs to looks almost like Josh Allen. He has the same type of size that Allen has and with the right coaching, I believe he could be the next great NFL quarterback. Just imagine a world where every year the AFC East is a battle between the Miami Dolphins, the fastest team in football, Josh Allen, and the elite defense of the New England Patriots with a new freak athlete of a quarterback leading them into the gauntlet of the NFL Playoffs. The dream of an elite player like Drake Maye rejuvenating the Patriots, is something that keeps the Foxborough Faithful hopeful for 2024 and beyond.
Maye Will Need Some Help to Succeed
There are some concerns with Maye’s ability to play the most important position at the next level. There have been some games at North Carolina when he makes some poor decisions with the football. He sometimes tries too hard to make a big play when all he needs is a short to intermediate completion. He holds on to the ball too long and takes sacks or even throws interceptions when he has a wide open receiver just shy of the first down marker. This is easier to get away with in college but if he does this at the NFL level, he will struggle. The NFL is a whole different world, much faster and more physical. The longer you hold on to the ball, the more likely it is you will be making huge mistakes. Which is why it is incredibly important that Maye goes to a well coached situation, and preferably a team with some building blocks around him like a solid number one wide receiver. This is something the Patriots need to prioritize in free agency so that when a young quarterback like Maye becomes a part of the organization, he already has some help.