New England Patriots
Maye has statistically been one of many league’s greatest passers to this point this season, displaying excessive upside.
Within the eyes of many, Drake Maye’s 273-yard efficiency within the Patriots’ upset win over the Payments in Week 5 served as a coming-out occasion. In truth, the efficiency elevated Maye’s quarterback rating.
Out of the six notable publications and shops that rank the quarterbacks on a weekly foundation, Maye was ranked as both the Tenth-best or Eleventh-best quarterback in all of them. 4 positioned the Patriots quarterback at No. 10 (NFL.com, Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, The Athletic), whereas two ranked him at No. 11 (The Ringer, CBS Sports).
In NFL.com’s quarterback rating, Maye was listed on the prime of Tier 3. Maye climbed three spots in The Athletic‘s Jeff Howe’s rating after Week 5, with an government heaping reward over the Patriots quarterback.
“He regarded nice — comfy and poised,” the chief reportedly told Howe. “He has all of the bodily instruments to be particular.”
These bodily instruments had been on full show within the Patriots’ victory over the Payments, with Maye residing as much as the comparisons to Josh Allen and Justin Herbert in that recreation. Two performs the place Maye’s athleticism actually stood out got here on a pair of completions to Stefon Diggs within the second half. Within the third quarter, he rolled to his proper and threw a 32-yard completion to Diggs alongside the sideline. On the Patriots’ game-winning drive, Maye wrestled out of a sack earlier than flipping a move to Diggs for a 12-yard completion.
The pair of completions appeared to guide each spotlight reel from Sunday’s recreation, however The Ringer’s Steve Ruiz wish to see Maye discover success from the pocket on a extra constant foundation earlier than rating him larger.
“If Maye might simply minimize out half the leap throws and off-platform YOLO balls from his recreation, he’d be on the quick observe to the highest 10. The remainder of the required expertise are already current in his recreation; he simply must hone them,” Ruiz wrote. “Taking part in with a greater supporting forged would assist, however Maye has the person potential to beat New England’s weak roster.”
Corridor of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner made a similar remark earlier this week when he was requested if he thought Maye had taken the following step.
“I believe Drake is enjoying some good soccer,” Warner said on “The Rich Eisen Show.” “However proper now, a little bit of it is a bit more yard soccer than strong, constant quarterback play.
“We’re seeing some big-time performs and a few good quarterback play. However proper now, I’m seeing an excessive amount of take a look at one man and go create.”
Maye has been one of many higher pocket passers to this point this season, although. His 84.9 completion proportion within the pocket is the third-best amongst beginning quarterbacks, and his 7.2 yards per try on move from the pocket are the Eleventh-most within the league, per Professional Soccer Focus.
Maye’s additionally been top-of-the-line quarterbacks within the league by way of field rating stats. He’s fifth in passing yards (1,261), fifth in yards per try (8.2), sixth in passer ranking (107.8), and second in completion proportion (73.9).
The superior numbers paint Maye in a fair higher mild, although. He’s sixth in anticipated factors added (EPA) per play (0.288) and third in completion proportion over anticipated (CPOE) (9.6).
And whereas Maye has been top-of-the-line quarterbacks at attacking the brief space of the sector, he’s additionally been fairly profitable at airing the ball out, too. He’s accomplished 25 of 38 passes on intermediate throws (10-19 air yards) for 406 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a 108 passer ranking this season. Maye has the best passer ranking (145.1) on deep throws (20-plus air yards) this season, finishing 8 of 11 such passes for 225 yards and a landing.
So, if Maye can preserve placing numbers up like that, it is perhaps solely a matter of time earlier than he’s thought of a consensus top-10 quarterback.
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