Drake Maye’s preseason 2025 debut felt like a rollercoaster with more drops than climbs. The QB managed just three completions on five throws for a humble 12 yards. Sure, his legs gave Foxborough a reason to cheer—an 11-yard scramble kept the drive alive, and he capped another with a five-yard touchdown run. But those flashes of promise quickly got buried under the weight of his mistakes.
A crushing 15-yard sack sent the Patriots backward before Maye coughed up the ball on just his third play of the preseason. Coach Mike Vrabel didn’t sugarcoat it when asked if the turnover “probably annoyed you with what he did.” His reply was sharp as a blade: “I would say you summed it up.” That cold, clipped tone said everything.
From there, things spiraled. NFL insider Nick Cattles broke it down bluntly. “Everything building up to this week has meant an awful lot, but this week means the most. He has to put it all together against a tough defense in Minnesota. And frankly, Maye started off the week, not great.” The practice field didn’t offer relief either — five near-picks on 13 attempts, two more sacks, and another fumbled snap. The turnover bug that bit him last year, with nine fumbles and 10 interceptions, seemed back for another round.
Naturally, the bigger question looms over New England. Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar voiced it perfectly: “I think that’s the biggest question right now that I have about their offenses, passing offense in general.” He pointed at the trifecta of issues — QB decision-making, shaky pass protection, and receivers failing to create separation. Whether the O-line can hold up or Maye can consistently protect the football in crunch time is still up in the air.
There’s no denying the danger Maye’s legs bring. On their second drive, deep in the red zone, his mobility turned into a weapon. He took off with ease, jogging into the pylon just like he did Friday night. That “11th man” factor forces defenses to respect his ability to run it in himself, especially near the goal line.
FILE PHOTO: Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
Still, potential alone won’t win games. Yes, the Patriots can be dynamic inside the #10 because Maye can score with his feet. But until they fix the pass protection, that red zone advantage won’t mean much. And right now, that’s priority one!
Josh McDaniels has a harsh truth for Drake Maye
Drake Maye’s preseason fumble against the Commanders could become the kind of mistake he never repeats. But that’s entirely on him. Sure, the Patriots’ staff will throw everything at him to coach out the bad decisions and cut down turnovers. Yet, as much as Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels want him to take the sack instead of risking the ball, they can’t do it for him. That responsibility sits squarely on Maye’s shoulders.
And McDaniels knows exactly what kind of player he’s working with. “He’s such a gifted athlete, and I think a lot of guys that play this position, that have ability to throw it, but also to move and make plays with their legs and extend plays, they have to find that line themselves, honestly,” he told reporters. And as he stressed, “We can tell them all we want, ‘Don’t make a bad play.’”
Still, the trick is knowing when to trust that talent. Earlier in camp, Maye escaped the pocket and uncorked a 60-yard strike on the run to Pop Douglas. It was a moment that reminded everyone why he’s the guy. But it’s not about shutting down those big-play attempts altogether—it’s about picking the right moments to unleash them and knowing when the safer option is the better play.
Even McDaniels admits that balance is tricky. “If I was telling him to throw that away, I’d have been pissed at myself,” he said. He’s already seen progress — Maye slid a couple times in the last game — but the OC made it clear, “Those guys that were blessed with that ability, they’re the ones that have to go out there and learn how to do that and balance it.”
At the end of the day, Maye still needs to improve on last year’s 3.0% interception rate and five lost fumbles. His awkward throw last Friday while being dragged down was proof he’s still finding that line. And as McDaniels summed it up, “The biggest thing we’ve tried to talk about… is to try to limit the number of repeat errors… as long as we learn from it and don’t repeat it again.” So let’s see how Maye bounces back.
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