Jul 16, 2026, 2:25 AM CUT

Patriots fans will love the NFL insider's opinion on Drake Maye amid shocking QB rankings

NFL, American Football Herren, USA AFC Divisional Round-Houston Texans at New England Patriots Jan 18, 2026 Foxborough, MA, USA New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye 10 warms up before an AFC Divisional Round game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. Foxborough Gillette Stadium MA USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDavidxButlerxIIx 20260118_kdn_sv3_037

Debate over the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks has increased after ESPN released the rankings this week. New England Patriots star Drake Maye landed on the eighth spot. However, not everyone was convinced by Maye's position on the list.

During a discussion on NBC Sports Boston, analyst Trenni Casey joined analysts Adam Jones and Albert Breer to break down where Maye truly belongs among the league's elite QBs.

"I think he's great [and] got a chance to be. I think there could be a point in two, three, four years where we're talking about him and he's the best player in football," said Albert Breer. "I think his ceiling is that high."

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 25: New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye 10 warms up before the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA JAN 25 AFC Championship Game Patriots at Broncos EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon132260125001

In the analysts' view, Maye consistently elevated the offense and demonstrated the qualities expected of a QB, making a strong case for placing him ahead of Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert.

"I would rank him higher. I can't believe he's behind Dak Prescott, who's also been runner-up for MVP. He shouldn't be behind Herbert, who he just beat in the postseason. So, I think there's three guys clearly that I would take over Maye. I would take Mahomes, Lamar, and Josh Allen in whatever order," Adam Jones said on NBC Sports Boston.

Maye's rapid rise has emerged as a premier storyline entering 2026. Following an impressive sophomore campaign, he earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors while finishing as the NFL MVP runner-up

Last year, he started 17 games with a 14-3 record while throwing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

He also guided New England to the playoffs and a Super Bowl appearance, defying widespread concerns regarding an unstable offensive line and limited receiving corps.

Although ESPN's composite ballot placed him eighth, the voting patterns revealed deep division, with some evaluators lauding his size, athleticism, and poise under pressure

Even Colin Cowherd recently placed Drake Maye at No. 10 in his QB rankings.

NFL analyst makes bold Drake Maye claim despite surprising QB ranking

Colin Cowherd placed Drake Maye in 10th position in his quarterback rankings and stated how remarkable Maye has been at such a young age.

"He feels like he's in his prime, and as a kid did it last year with bad O-line and an average running game," said Colin Cowherd on The Herd podcast. "So nobody thought they would get to the Super Bowl. He is the most accurate quarterback in the NFL last season."

Cowherd labeled Maye "the most accurate QB in the NFL season," pointing to his league-high 72% completion percentage as proof that he is already performing at an elite level.

Where do you think Drake Maye should rank among the NFL’s elite? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore