Drake Maye's shaky performance doesn't help Patriots with QB decision

The headline from the New England Patriots' dominating performance on Friday night was Drake Maye's up-and-down play. 

Maye was only under center for two drives of the Patriots' 48-18 victory over the Washington Commanders, but those two drives furthered the questions surrounding the young quarterback as he heads into his sophomore NFL season. 

Maye, 22, would've had a "fine" game if not for a bad turnover. He completed 3-of-5 passes for 12 yards while adding 16 yards on the ground and a touchdown. 

Maye, who mostly played it safe through the air with short passes, ruined his first possession with a lost fumble. 

And following the game, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wasn't shy about sharing his disappointment in Maye's mistake. 

"I think we’re gonna need better from him, and I think he knows that and that’s obvious. So it wasn’t there, and we’ll just have to be able to find a way to get rid of the football or take a sack and punt and play defense," said Vrabel.

To Maye's credit, he took accountability. "I’ve got to do my part protecting the football." 

"Can’t do that on my first time out…Glad we responded well that next drive, but at the same time, I’m glad it’s something I can control. But at the end of the day, you just can’t put the defense in that position when games matter… Glad I was able to get another series going," he added.

Maye also showed a maturity on the field as well, leading his team down the field for a score as a way to make up for the turnover. 

The touchdown was just a short five-yard run, but it set the wheels in motion for a total team win. 

Maye is coming off an up-and-down rookie season. After being drafted by New England with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, Maye threw for 2,276 yards and completed 66.6% of his passes in 13 games.  

But much like on Friday night, Maye struggled to create big plays and was often responsible for costly turnovers. He scored 17 total touchdowns —15 through the air and a pair on the ground. However, Maye's 12 turnovers (10 picks and losing two of his four fumbles) led the once-proud Patriots down a path that resulted in a miserable 4-13 season. 

Maye's defenders argue he was simply going through rookie growing pains and didn't have enough weapons at his disposal. But those excuses won't work in 2025 — he has one NFL season under his belt and has a veteran wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, to rely on as well. 

Patriots fans are now left wondering if this one preseason game was a microcosm of what's ahead again or if Maye can take another step in his development and help eventually make New England a contender again.