Despite the numerous monumental changes the Patriots have undergone over the last few years, the 2025 season might be the first time since Tom Brady was on the team that fans have been the most optimistic about what's to come. A significant reason for this is the addition of Mike Vrabel as head coach, along with the staff he hired, and the expected second-year jump of quarterback Drake Maye.
After putting together an impressive rookie campaign, even in the unfavorable circumstances in which he was drafted, Maye's potential for the upcoming season is projected to be among some of the top quarterbacks in the league. With the additions made to the offense around him, particularly the offensive line and receiving corps, there are no limits to what he could accomplish.
On top of it all, he will have the luxury of working with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, which is a big reason predictions for Maye's season continue to be through the roof. The latest of which comes from Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated, who may have the best prediction for the quarterback's second season yet.
Drake Maye is predicted to have a far more memorable 2025 season than Patriots fans could have imagined
Expectations are certainly high for the Patriots this season for more reasons than one, with Maye leading the charge among the most anticipated to have a standout season. Besides potentially leading the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, there is a lot of hype about how much better his performance will be due to the noteworthy additions the new regime made to the offense this offseason.
Because of that, Orr predicts that Maye will "finish with the highest PFF grade among all quarterbacks drafted in 2024," which is quite a feat considering that would mean he outperforms first and second overall picks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, who led the Commanders to the NFC Championship last year.
On top of that, Daniels won Offensive Rookie of the Year, so a prediction that Maye could outperform him would be a tremendous accomplishment and would immediately solidify his role as the Patriots' next franchise quarterback for the long haul.
It's an exciting prospect to consider, given how difficult it has been for the team to find their Brady replacement. Starting with Cam Newton in 2020, followed by Mac Jones, whose career rapidly declined over the next two years, and an experiment with Bailey Zappe, all led to Maye being the 2024 third overall pick.
The addition of McDaniels and Vrabel will prove to be Robert Kraft's best decision, potentially since hiring Bill Belichick, to reshape the future of the New England Patriots. Even if the team doesn't make the playoffs, having a superstar quarterback under center provides the chance of a brighter future and the potential of a Super Bowl run much sooner rather than later.
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