Drake Maye
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Drake Maye has basic kryptonite the New England Patriots must overcome.
The New England Patriots and Drake Maye have a problem, one that shows up against the “lowest-hanging fruit” in the NFL. Maye is supposed to be a franchise quarterback in the making, but the second-year pro’s weakness is actually the two most elementary coverages in football.
It’s an issue explained by John Kosko of Pro Football Focus. He outlined how “rookies always struggle in some form, but arguably the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of a weakness for Maye in 2024 was his play against single-high coverages (Cover 1 and 3). Cover 1 is a man coverage with a single free safety, and Cover 3 is a zone coverage typically with one deep free safety and two cornerbacks deep, each covering a third of the field.”
Kosko continued, “Maye’s 56.5 PFF passing grade against single-high coverages ranked fifth worst in the NFL. While his play against two-high wasn’t exactly stellar, his 69.0 PFF passing grade on such plays still ranked 19th out 40 qualifiers.”
Those aren’t the type of numbers new head coach Mike Vrabel and returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can allow to become a trend. Maye has too much arm talent and natural athleticism to make it easy for defenses to stop him.
Fortunately, things can improve thanks to a different scheme and an improved supporting cast.
Drake Maye Must Fix Basic Weakness
Top quarterbacks are supposed to feast on basic coverages and force defense to get increasingly complex to try and limit the damage. Maye hasn’t put enough fear into opposing teams because he’s been directing a small-ball passing game.
Of course, it’s not easy to find big plays through the air against three-deep coverage, but Maye has been guilty of forcing throws. Even when he’s been right to gamble, the third-overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft has been let down by his receivers.
That’s what happened when Maye’s desperate heave against a three-deep shell played by the New York Jets was dropped by wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. Although the latter was guilty of letting the ball get away, Taylor Kyles of Patriots on CLNS correctly pointed out “Maye should’ve gone to Kendrick Bourne after seeing the safety shaded to Tyqaun Thornton.”
Feel like Drake Maye should've gone to Kendrick Bourne after seeing the safety shaded to Tyqaun Thornton, but the rookie made up for it with a ridiculous throw on the run
Nice adjustment from Thornton running to space, but a really tough drop pic.twitter.com/tY2TNuBzKA
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 28, 2024
Kyles’ note about Maye making a “nice adjustment” to throw on the run is telling. It speaks to Maye’s preference for playing off script.
That bold approach can yield big rewards, but it can also get Maye into trouble against coverages designed to punish quarterbacks impatient for big plays.
McDaniels will want Maye to play within the confines of the system because that’s what worked so well for franchise great Tom Brady. Maye is a different kind of quarterback, but weapons will be more important than scheme for finding answers to his basic kryptonite.
Patriots Equipped to Fix Drake Maye’s Problem
Not having premium receivers last season meant the Patriots couldn’t beat one-on-one coverage, nor find enough holes in zones. Things should change this year, now Maye has All-Pro Stefon Diggs to aim for outside the numbers, while DeMario Douglas and offseason breakout star, undrafted rookie Efton Chism III will thrive getting open between the hashmarks.
Maye’s case will also be helped by second-round pick running back TreVeyon Henderson. He’s an A-grade playmaker capable of stretching the field in both phases of the offense.
The Patriots have surrounded Maye with enough talent to overcome his core problem. Henderson and Chism can make more yards after the catch than last season’s group, while 31-year-old Diggs is still enough of a burner, at least once he’s fully healthy, to make it worth the risk for Maye to chance throwing deep against Cover 1 or 3.
Arm strength and X’s and O’s won’t be as problematic for these Patriots as still fragile pass protection in front of their star QB1.