The sudden star turn that Drake Maye has made in his second season with the New England Patriots has helped make them one of the most exciting teams in the NFL. And as it turns out, the excitement surrounding Maye’s breakout campaign isn’t limited to just the New England region.
In his first full season as the team’s starting quarterback, Maye has thrown for 3,412 yards and 23 touchdowns, while also rushing for 319 yards and another pair of scores on the ground. In the process, Maye has turned himself into a full-fledged MVP candidate in the blink of an eye.
Maye’s strong play on the field, combined with his humble demeanor off the field, has made him a wildly popular player among fans. Case in point, Maye remains the top vote-getter in the NFL’s voting for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games.
Maye was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2024, but that was only after several quarterbacks ahead of him in the voting opted not to attend the event. While that honor was certainly earned, this time around, it looks like Maye is going to get selected in resounding fashion.
Story continues below advertisement
The second-closest quarterback in the voting behind Maye is Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, who appears to be the former North Carolina Tar Heels’ top competitor for the MVP Award. While Stafford is leading the pack in that race for the time being, Maye is well ahead of him in the Pro Bowl vote.
Individual accolades are nice and all, but it’s clear that Maye’s main focus is on winning football games with the Patriots. New England is gearing up for its biggest game of the season, as it has a very important rematch with the Buffalo Bills on its hands in Week 15.
Featured image via Eric Canha/Imagn Images
