The future has arrived for the New England Patriots in the form of North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
New England loved his talent so much they are believed to have snubbed the Minnesota Vikings for as many as three first-round picks to stay at No. 3 overall on the draft board and select their quarterback of the future.
The immediate reaction to Maye as a prospect has been mixed. Some view him as a Day 1 starter with the ability to revitalize the struggling Patriots offense, while others believe it’ll take significant work behind the scenes before the team is comfortable handing him the reins.
There is a plethora of quarterback talent in the AFC East division alone, much less the entire NFL. Maye wouldn’t have to wait long to get thrown into the fire, either, with the Patriots having the second-hardest schedule in the league.
Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey ranked the top-36 quarterbacks in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season, and despite having yet to take a snap in the league, Maye made the list. Here’s where he ranked amongst his peers heading into his rookie year: