In hopes of finally returning to their winning ways ahead of the 2024 NFL season, the New England Patriots drafted quarterback Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Maye compiled quite the career at North Carolina: throwing for 8,018 yards and 63 touchdowns, rushing for 1,209 yards and 16 more scores, plus adding 2022 ACC Player and Rookie of the Year to his already-impressive resumé.
Professional football is significantly tougher than college, but with Maye’s standout Tar Heels career, many New England fans hoped he’d be starting from Week 1.
That wasn’t the case, but quickly changed a few weeks into the current NFL season.
On Sunday, Oct. 13, Maye made his first career NFL start against the Houston Texans – and made some history in the process, doing something no other quarterback has done since 1950.
Despite fumbling once and tossing a pair of interceptions, Maye played well otherwise. The rookie out of UNC completed 20 of his 33 passes, tallying 243 yards and three touchdowns, while leading the Patriots with 38 rushing yards.
Drake Maye is the first QB since at least 1950 to throw 3+ pass TD & lead his team in rushing yards in his career first NFL start.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 13, 2024
Maye’s passing prowess was welcomed by virtually any New England fan, as Brissett never ONCE surpassed 200 passing yards in his five starts. Brissett also threw two total touchdowns in those five starts. The Patriots’ rushing game was also a huge eye-sore outside of Maye, with three running backs gaining a combined 44 yards on 21 carries.
Maye will encounter a new first in his next NFL game this coming weekend, when New England faces the Jacksonville Jaguars. This will be Maye’s first international game, as the 2018 AFC Championship rematch will be played across the pond in London, England’s Wembley Stadium.
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