Drake Maye vs. Tom Brady stats: How Patriots sophomore QB's start to career compares to NFL GOAT

The New England Patriots's dark days appear over.

After a pair of 4-13 seasons, the Patriots are not only back to their winning ways, but they are set up to continue winning for years to come because they have a quarterback they firmly believe is their long-term answer at the position.

Drake Maye is playing like a superstar, giving New England its first taste of sustained, high-level quarterback play since Tom Brady's time with the franchise ended after the 2019 season.

The standard for Maye is not Brady. No one would realistically expect Maye to match Brady's six Super Bowl rings as a Patriot. The numbers, however, line up pretty well when comparing Maye's first two seasons to Brady's first two seasons.

Here's a closer look at how Maye's impressive start to his NFL career compares to Brady.

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Drake Maye vs. Tom Brady first two seasons

Brady didn't play in his rookie season, so here is a snapshot of his first two seasons as a starter vs. Maye's first two seasons:

It's undeniable that Brady's best statistical seasons came well after the very start of his career, but through two seasons, Maye's stats hold up very well against Brady's early numbers.

Maye's completion percentage is seven points higher, and he is averaging just three fewer yards per game through the air than Brady did. His touchdown rate is nearly identical to Brady's, while his interception rate and passer rating are noticeably better.

The obvious caveat is that Brady led the Patriots on a stunning championship run in his first season as a starter. Maye did not, and while New England is off to a terrific start in 2025, playoff success certainly isn't guaranteed. Winning a Super Bowl supersedes everything else, and Brady has the advantage over every quarterback in NFL history in that category.

It's also worth noting that Maye stepped into a situation as a rookie that most agreed was one of the worst in the NFL, with a rookie head coach, a lack of weapons, and poor protection. The situation has improved in 2025, but Maye's production has arguably improved even more than his situation has.

With that being said, Maye has already had some achievements in his second season that beat Brady. Maye broke Brady's franchise record for single-game completion percentage, completing 91.3 percent of passes against the Tennessee Titans. He also has an active streak of eight consecutive games with a passer rating of at least 100.0, something Brady didn't do until his seventh season as a starter. 

Drake Maye joins an elite QB club with 200+ passing yards & 100+ passer rating in 7+ consecutive games within a season at any age:

🏆 Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2020)
🏆 Tom Brady (2007)
🏆 Peyton Manning (2004)
🏆 Patrick Mahomes (2018) pic.twitter.com/lhDTNcHzm0

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) October 26, 2025

As Maye continues to make progress, expectations for winning will continue to rise. For now, Patriots fans are just enjoying the ride after a few unusual seasons without elite quarterback play.

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Drake Maye stats 2025

Maye has positioned himself as an MVP contender through nine weeks of his second season, ranking fifth in the NFL in passing yards, tied for third in passing touchdowns, and second in passer rating, trailing only Lamar Jackson, who has played four fewer games.

The Patriots knew the numbers might not tell the full story for Maye in Year One given the situation around him, but they saw enough flashes to feel confident he would take the next step in Year Two. Not only has Maye taken a step, but he looks ready to lead New England back to the playoffs.

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