A predictably poor New England Patriots 2024 season ended substantially better than it started:
Drake Maye proved himself to be the talent that the Patriots thought he was when they selected him with the 3rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft; the team has over $125 million in cap space heading into the 2025 offseason – by far the most in the league,; and the team saw the return of Mike Vrabel to the franchise, this time taking on the head coaching position.
An elite head coach, a very talented quarterback and a large amount of money to throw around in free agency should give the team all the ingredients they need to show significant improvement from the year prior, where the Pats went 4-13 and received the 4th overall pick in the upcoming 2025 draft.
And with things looking up, New England and their burgeoning franchise quarterback received some excellent news on Tuesday.
#Patriots QB Drake Maye has been added to the Pro Bowl roster. pic.twitter.com/1nxARBl2CG
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 28, 2025
Another Patriots Quarterback Makes The Pro Bowl In Debut Season
Drake Maye has officially been added to the 2025 Pro Bowl roster. Whilst the Pro Bowl does not carry the prestigiousness of the All-Pro teams, it is certainly an impressive achievement for a player who was surrounded by perhaps the worst offensive setup in football – a terrible offensive line and no true #1 or #2 receiver on the perimeter.
When your 30 year old tight end is the primary pass catcher on the team – accounting for just 674 yards – you know you need an upgrade at the offensive skill positions.
He follows in the footsteps of the now infamous Mac Jones, who also made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, albeit going 10-7 and reaching the playoffs before getting easily beaten by the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.
Jones’ career only went down from there, as poor consecutive seasons eventually lead to him losing his job to backup, Bailey Zappe, before both were eventually moved at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Is This An Ominous Sign For Drake Maye?
Maye’s Pro Bowl nod – and indeed season – feels different, luckily for Patriots fans. Whilst Jones’ rookie season impressed due to output; he passed for 3,800 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 picks; Maye’s hinged on the demonstration of potential: his big arm, flash plays with his feet and quick decision making impressed voters and fans alike.
Critics will perhaps argue that Maye’s call-up is unwarranted, given the excellent play of fellow rookie, Broncos signal caller, Bo Nix down the stretch, and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert, who threw just three interceptions all season.
This will likely be compounded by the fact that Steelers quarterback, Russell Wilson, somehow made the cut, despite a disappointing season that culminated in Pittsburgh losing their final five games – although this could be a product of early Pro Bowl voting, in which players, coaches and fans saw and voted on glimpses of strong play from Wilson mid-season, instead of being able to wait for a big picture view.
Regardless, this is great achievement for Maye, who generated 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns this season with the Patriots.
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Patriots’ Drake Maye Gets Good News Ahead Of Offseason