Drake Maye is having a sensational sophomore season as the New England Patriots' starting quarterback, exciting fans who finally have their worthy passing successor to Tom Brady.
Turns out, Maye's breakout Year 2 in 2025 after being drafted No. 3 overall in 2024 is well ahead of what Brady was able to do as a young Patriots QB. Maye is also emerging as an MVP candidate with his team moving to 4-2, thanks in big part to his play in Sunday's solid 25-10 win at New Orleans.
With the UNC product's standout sophomore start, there have been some statistical comparisons getting thrown around with big names.
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Here's looking at Maye's numbers so far in six games and why he's on a historic stretch for being only 23:
Drake Maye's 2025 statistics through Week 6
Maye has been lighting up in the first season of Josh McDaniels' offense, serving as his most efficient and executing passer since ... Brady for many seasons.
| Pass completions | 131 |
| Pass attempts | 179 |
| Completion percentage | 73.2 |
| Passing yards per game | 253.6 |
| Passing yards per attempt | 8.5 |
| Passing TDs | 10 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Passer rating | 112.5 |
| Rushing yards | 138 |
| Rushing TDs | 2 |
| Rushing yards per attempt | 3.8 |
How Drake Maye has matched Patrick Mahomes
Before Sunday's game, there were only three quarterbacks in NFL history (per Scott Hanson on NFL RedZone) aged 23 or younger to post five consecutive games of at least 200 yards passing while also putting up a 100-plus passer rating.
Maye joined that exclusive club, which had only included the Chiefs' Mahomes, Dolphins Hall of Famer Dan Marino and the Cowboys' Dak Prescott.
MORE: Every perfect passer rating in NFL history
With the Patriots starting 4-2, including a big AFC East victory over the division-leading 4-1 Bills, they are in strong playoff contention near the halfway point of the 205 season. Maye's play should have him on the short list of MVP candidates, leading a turnaround for a team that finished 4-13 in his rookie season.
Mahomes won MVP in his first season as a full-time starter in 2018. Lamar Jackson repeated that feat for the Ravens a season later in 2019. Maye has given himself a chance to match Mahomes again with his hot start.
How Drake Maye has done better than Tom Brady
Maye, with his winning performance against the Saints, made it five consecutive games with a passer rating of 100.0 or more in only his second season. It took Brady until his eighth season, when he broke out for a then-record 50 touchdown passes in 2007, to pull off the feat for the Patriots.
Maye also earned another piece of history over the Patriots' and league-wide GOAT QB. He hit 200 yards passing for five consecutive games, but he also had a completion percentage of 70 percent of better in those games. Brady's high mark was four such games in a row, the first coming in that same prolific '07 season.
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Statistically, as a young QB, there's no doubt Maye is trending toward being a better Brady. But Brady also won his first Super Bowl at age 24 and had his first three rings by age 27. In the end, given the Patriots' championship tradition, Brady's success is measured most by six Super Bowl victories and nine AFC titles.
Maye still has given Patriots about which to be excited, emerging as one of the league's best young quarterbacks in such a short time, getting a huge Brady-like boost from the team hiring back McDaniels.