Drake Lee Maye (born August 30, 2002) is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of North Carolina, where he distinguished himself as a standout player. During his collegiate career, Maye earned the Shaun Alexander Award and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Football Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the NCAA in total offense with 5,019 yards. He set school records with 4,321 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns in that season while also contributing significantly on the ground with 698 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns[1][2]. Maye was selected third overall by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft and signed a four-year fully guaranteed contract. He made his NFL debut in Week 3 of the 2024 season and quickly became the Patriots' starting quarterback by October of that year. In his rookie season, he threw for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, earning Pro Bowl honors as a replacement player for the 2025 Pro Bowl. Notably, Maye's first ten passing touchdowns were to ten different receivers, a rare NFL achievement not seen since 1973[1][2][7]. In the 2025 season, Maye continued to demonstrate strong performances, including setting a Patriots franchise record with a 91.3% completion rate in a single game, surpassing a record previously held by Tom Brady. He also led a game-winning drive against the Buffalo Bills, culminating in a 52-yard field goal[2]. Despite a concussion in October 2024, his overall performance has remained impressive, establishing him as a key figure for the Patriots' offense[2]. Maye stands 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 225 pounds, and wears jersey number 10 for the Patriots[4][7].