Patriots’ Drake Maye Debuts In QB Rankings, Can Climb ‘Pretty Quick’

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye made his debut Monday in The Athletic’s NFL QB Tiers rankings.

Its panel of 50 experts included six general managers, six assistant GMs, six former general managers, five other executives, eight head coaches and 19 other coaches.

“Each voter placed 34 veteran quarterbacks into five tiers, from best (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 5),” The Athletic’s Mike Sando wrote Monday. “Quarterbacks were then ranked by average vote and placed into tiers based on vote distribution. The survey excludes rookies because voters have not seen them play in the NFL.”

The results of the survey had Maye ranked No. 22 overall and sitting squarely in Tier 3. Among the concerns regarding the second-year quarterback were the 10 interceptions and 32 sacks he took last year in 12 starts.

“His team was so bad,” an offensive coordinator said, per Sando. “Vince Lombardi couldn’t have gotten that team any more wins than they got. Maye has promise. There is talent. There is ability. I think he looked very natural at the position.”

That coach wasn’t alone. Sando noted “voters generally thought Maye could become a 2.”

“The person and the leadership and the ability to run made him good as a rookie,” another offensive coordinator said, according to Sando. “He can ascend pretty quick if he can start to hit progressions.”

The Patriots selected Maye with the No. 3 pick overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams, who went to the Chicago Bears with the first pick overall, ranked behind Maye, coming in at No. 23.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick overall, finished sixth in the power rankings as a high Tier 2 signal-caller.

The only other second-year quarterback ranking ahead of Maye was Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix. He went No. 12 overall in the draft last year and tied for 20th in the poll.