Former New England Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer has sparked major debate across the NFL after revealing a quarterback ranking that places Drake Maye ahead of some of the league’s biggest stars, including Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Speaking on Sirius XM NFL Radio, Hoyer ranked Maye as the second-best quarterback in the league, trailing only Matthew Stafford.
In his assessment, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills landed third, Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs came in fourth, and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals was tied for fifth with Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
The list immediately raised eyebrows given the established dominance and accolades of several of those quarterbacks.
Hoyer explained that his evaluation wasn’t based solely on reputation or career résumé, but heavily influenced by Maye’s development and leadership heading into the 2026 season.
“The reason I go with Drake second is not only what he did last year, but what I’m hearing coming out of Patriots camp right now,” said Hoyer.
“A.J. Brown was talking about Drake taking over the meeting room. I was in a room with a guy who did that every day, Tom Brady, and when a quarterback takes ownership like that it can take it to the next level.”
Maye’s 2025 season gave weight to the discussion. The young Patriots quarterback completed 72% of his passes while throwing for 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.
He also added another 450 rushing yards and four scores on the ground, showcasing his dual-threat ability.
His performance helped lead New England to a strong postseason run that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance, cementing him as one of the league’s fastest-rising stars. With that trajectory, some analysts believe his ceiling could be even higher entering his third season.
Patriots build around Maye as expectations rise in 2026
As excitement builds around Maye, the Patriots have made several moves to strengthen the roster around him. New England used a first-round pick on offensive lineman Caleb Lomu to reinforce protection up front.
In free agency, they added wide receiver Romeo Doubs, and later made a major splash by trading for star receiver A.J. Brown. The goal is clear: surround their young quarterback with enough talent to sustain another deep playoff push.
Despite the offensive optimism, questions remain on the defensive side of the ball. The Patriots’ pass rush struggled in 2025, finishing with just 35 sacks, which ranked near the bottom of the NFL.
That has led to growing speculation about whether the team should pursue veteran help. One name frequently mentioned is Joey Bosa, formerly of the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers.
Bosa, a former Defensive Rookie of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler, recorded five sacks and led the league with five forced fumbles last season.
His potential availability on a short-term deal has made him an appealing depth option for many analysts.
Head coach Mike Vrabel, however, has remained publicly confident in his current edge group. He has highlighted internal players such as Dre’Mont Jones, Harold Landry, and younger developmental pieces as part of the solution, suggesting the team may not rush into outside additions.