New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is deserving as ever of a spot on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list.
Maye was not named to the Top 100 Players list in 2025. He threw for 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, but he had yet to emerge as the MVP candidate that he became the following season. Maye’s sharp rise in play has him slated to be recognized on the list determined by his peers prior to the start of next season.
According to NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, Maye is one of seven players who have the best shot to make their NFL Top 100 debut in 2026. The Patriots quarterback was also projected to rank within the top 20 on that eventual list.
”The 2025 MVP runner-up should sit high atop the list after leading the Patriots on an unexpected Super Bowl run,” Brooks wrote. “Maye led the NFL in completion rate (72%), becoming the eighth quarterback in league history to finish a season with at least 4,000 yards and 30 passing touchdowns while completing 70% or more of his passes.”
Maye had a great season in 2025. The UNC product threw for 4,394 yards and led the NFL in completion rate at 72 percent. He emerged as one of the best deep-ball passers in the NFL and led the Patriots to the Super Bowl at the end of the season.