Patriots

Patriots select QB Drake Maye with No. 3 pick in 2024 NFL Draft

Drake Maye is the Patriots' highest draft pick since 1993.

Drake Maye was selected by the Patriots with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/John Bzemore)

April 25, 2024

The Patriots have their new potential franchise quarterback.

After months of speculation, the Patriots’ new regime used its highest draft pick since 1993 to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Maye, 21, has drawn comparisons to franchise signal-callers currently in the NFL ranks like Buffalo’s Josh Allen and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert thanks to his strong arm, pro-ready frame (6-foot-4, 230 pounds), and athleticism.

Maye, who was named the 2022 ACC Player of the Year during his first full season as the Tar Heels’ starter, closed out his tenure in Chapel Hill with 63 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 8,018 passing yards, and a 64.9% completion percentage over 30 games (26 starts) at UNC.

Drake Maye put on a show in @UNCFootball's 40-7 win over Syracuse 🎯

🔥 442 Pass Yds
🔥 55 Rush Yds
🔥 4 Total TD pic.twitter.com/ccrwEUqt2s
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 7, 2023

New England’s decision to bring aboard Maye ends what had been a seemingly limitless stream of speculation as to how the Patriots were going to use that No. 3 pick.

Maye stood as the best available QB on the board after the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders selected USC’s Caleb Williams and LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively.

Even though Maye has long held court as a projected top-five pick in this draft class, the Patriots were also linked to Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy as a potential contingency plan under center.

De-facto GM Eliot Wolf also declared that the Patriots were “open for business” when it came to fielding trade offers — opening the door for other QB-needy teams like the Vikings to reportedly try to move up and acquire New England’s No. 3 pick in exchange for a haul of draft picks.

The Patriots ultimately decided to stay put at No. 3, with Maye showcasing plenty of traits that NFL teams covet in a franchise fixture at the most important position in football.

Even though Maye’s numbers dipped in 2023 (63.3% completion percentage, 3608 yards, 24 TD, 9 INT), he drew high praise from Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo earlier this offseason for his high ceiling.

“Drake Maye had a fantastic interview at the combine,” Mayo said of Maye in March. “He brings a lot of energy. You can tell he has that leadership ability. Also, the exciting part about a guy like Drake Maye is the ceiling. Like, there is really no ceiling with a guy like that.”

“Now, in saying that when we’re trying to put together this roster I know a lot of people look at the ceiling but you’ve also got to kind of see how low is the floor?” Mayo added. “I would say a guy like Drake Maye has a lot of room to grow. He’s a young guy. Honestly, he hasn’t played football nearly as much as these other guys so that’s definitely something we looked at. But, he’s definitely going to develop.”

Even with Maye’s high upside, several scouts have pointed out that the 21-year-old QB might need some time to marinate in the NFL ranks — rather than get thrown in immediately as a team’s QB1.

“Huge upside, but way more of a project than he appears to be,” one NFL coordinator told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler last week. “Footwork all over the place, same with his eyes. Kind of just makes plays off raw talent and athleticism. Thought he would be much more polished.”

If Maye needs time to develop before getting the nod for game action, the Patriots can turn to QB Jacoby Brissett to serve as a bridge starter and veteran resource until Maye is ready to take the reins of an NFL offense.