The Surprising Stat Drake Maye Quietly Dominated Last Season That No One Noticed

Drake Maye finished last season with a stat that’s about as flattering as a soggy toast at breakfast — nearly 30% of his passing yards came in what’s dubbed “garbage time,” when the game’s outcome was already set in stone. Now, I’m not saying the guy was just throwing chuck-it passes after the cavalry had charged off into the sunset, but it does make you wonder: how much of that shiny rookie stat line was built in moments that really mattered? As the Patriots gear up for Year Two with a beefed-up offense and coaching staff, the pressure’s on Maye not just to replicate that potential, but to cut down on the fluff and start delivering when the heat’s truly on — because let’s face it, no team’s impressed by points that come after the buzzer’s sung. Can this young signal-caller flip the script and become the leader New England desperately needs? Time to find out.

Following the close of the 2025 NFL Draft, optimism continues to build around the New England Patriots’ future.

Yet the shadow of last season still looms, particularly regarding rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s development and the context behind his statistics.

A revealing metric recently making rounds online highlights quarterbacks with the highest percentage of passing yards accumulated during garbage time, defined as when a team’s win probability sits either above 95% or below 5%, with a minimum of 200 pass attempts.

This statistic paints a concerning picture for New England’s young signal-caller.

Maye topped this unflattering list, with 29% of his total passing yards, 654 in total, coming when games were effectively decided.

QBs from last season with the highest % of passing yards in garbage time

Minimum of 200 attempts and a win probably of higher than 95% or lower than 5%.

(via: pickinem/ig) pic.twitter.com/rY42WmFfIn

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) May 2, 2025

Mason Rudolph followed closely at 27% (411 yards), with Jordan Love rounding out the top three at 24% (826 yards).

Several other names crossed the 20% threshold, including Spencer Rattler, Dak Prescott, Will Levis, Aidan O’Connell, and Bryce Young.

While garbage-time production isn’t entirely without value, the data suggests that for Maye, a considerable portion of his rookie numbers came well after the competitive phase of games had concluded.

Heading into his sophomore campaign, Maye’s situation appears markedly improved compared to his rookie season.

The Patriots have bolstered his supporting cast with an upgraded offensive unit and assembled a coaching staff possessing substantially more experience.

These improvements naturally elevate expectations for the young quarterback.

With fewer obstacles impeding his progress, the pressure for Maye to deliver has intensified.

New England expects him to embrace this challenge, assert himself as the offensive leader, and justify his first-round selection.

Maye must refine his game, reduce turnovers, and adopt self-preservation tactics through smarter decisions, particularly knowing when to slide.

His rookie season showed flashes of potential, but now comes the critical phase of elevating his performance to the next level.

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