Drake Maye is making an impression in his second NFL season with the New England Patriots.
The young quarterback delivered a near-perfect performance Sunday in the Patriots’ 31-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans, completing 21 of 23 passes for a 91.3 percent completion rate.
New England now sits at 5-2 atop their division, but questions are surfacing about whether the team is leaning too heavily on Maye to fuel their playoff push.
Former NFL guard Mark Schlereth addressed those concerns during a recent segment on WEEI Afternoons.
He dismissed any doubts about Maye’s impact and defended the quarterback’s legitimacy as a difference-maker for New England.
“I would say, are they in first place and 5-2, and should they probably won the two games they lost early in the season? Yeah. So, No! I mean, Drake Maye has been that good. He’s been that legit. You can sit there and say all those things, but Drake Maye, what he threw 23 times? And he’s been great on the scramble,” Schlereth said.
"Are they in first place and 5-2 and should have probably won the two games they lost early in the season? Yeah. So no, Drake Maye has been that good. He's been that legit."@markschlereth isn't buying the idea that the Patriots are leaning too much on Drake Maye. pic.twitter.com/BAVQXolN4g
— WEEI Afternoons (@WEEIAfternoons) October 21, 2025
Maye took one significant hit that briefly sidelined him with a potential concussion, but Schlereth is not overly concerned about his running style.
He noted that quarterbacks scrambling in open space can see defenders coming, while hits inside the pocket often prove more dangerous and unpredictable.
Beyond toughness, Schlereth highlighted Maye’s pocket awareness and ability to sense pressure without tracking every defender.
The quarterback manipulates the pocket effectively, stepping up and rolling his shoulders to escape through the front or sides rather than retreating backward.
That approach turns potential eight- or nine-yard losses into manageable three- or four-yard scrambles, keeping drives alive and the offense efficient.
Schlereth believes those instincts demonstrate how mature and confident Maye has already become.
NEXT: Drake Maye Made Franchise History On Sunday