Former UNC Star Drake Maye Named 9th-Best QB in NFL

FOX Sports believes former UNC star Drake Maye is the ninth-best quarterback in the NFL right now. 

Maye is one spot ahead of Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford and one spot behind Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love on FOX Sports' QB rankings list. 

Stafford won the NFL MVP award last season. Maye was second. 

During the New England Patriots-Chicago Bears game last week, Maye went 24-of-31 through the air for 321 passing yards. He threw two touchdowns and one interception and ran for a touchdown.

Despite Maye's stellar game, the Patriots lost to the Bears by a final score of 30-24. New England is now 4-3. Maye and Co. lost three games all of last season when they went to the Super Bowl and lost to the Seattle Seahawks. 

In 30 games at UNC, Maye put up 8,018 passing yards, 63 passing touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was the 2022 ACC Player of the Year and the 2022 ACC Offensive Player of the Year. 

Maye also had 1,209 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns at UNC. He led the ACC in passing yards in 2022 and 2023 and led the ACC in passing touchdowns in 2022.

The Patriots selected Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams (USC) went first to the Bears and Jayden Daniels (LSU) went second to the Washington Commanders. 

Maye has turned into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He was second in MVP voting last season. Tar Heel Nation must be proud of the 24-year-old. 

In seven games for the Patriots this season, Maye has 1,784 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. He needs to do a better job of protecting the ball. Otherwise, the Patriots will not make the playoffs. 

Next up for New England is a matchup against the 1-5 Miami Dolphins. Maye and Co. should win that game easily. 

Maye enters the Patriots-Dolphins game with 8,454 passing yards and 59 touchdown passes in the regular season with New England. Following in the footsteps of Tom Brady is nearly impossible, as Brady won six Super Bowls with the Patriots. 

However, Maye has carried himself well and led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in just his second NFL campaign. Everything he learned at UNC has paid off. 

Now, it's time for Maye to lead New England to the promised land for the first time without Brady, who won six rings with the Patriots.