Drake Maye's rookie NFL season to continue the weekend before Super Bowl
When the New England Patriots selected former UNC football star Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, they hoped to finally secure their first franchise quarterback since moving on from Tom Brady.
While Maye initially began his rookie season on the bench, it only took New England six weeks to name Maye their starter. Given a young roster with a struggling offensive line, Maye played fairly well in his first pro season: 2,276 passing yards, 15 passing touchdown to 10 interceptions, 421 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The Patriots finished 4-13, last in the AFC East for the second-straight year, but Maye was definitely a rare bright spot for his team.
It turns out, Maye isn't done playing football quite yet this season
On Tuesday, January 28, Maye was named as an AFC Pro Bowl Games replacement.
Maye and former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, the latter of whom is now the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback, were tabbed as replacements for Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
Maye's nod also makes him New England's first Pro Bowl quarterback since 2021, when now Jacksonville Jaguars backup Mac Jones was a rookie.
The star-studded Pro Bowl Games replacement list goes on, but Maye joins a group that includes Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, a former Georgia Bulldog and Seattle Seawhawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a former Ohio State Buckeye.
With the Patriots earning yet another high NFL Draft selection in April's 2025 draft, additional help should be on the way for Maye. He has a talented, young wide receiver corps that includes fellow 2024 draftee Ja'Lynn Polk, but no one who's proven to take over as a WR1.
If you want to watch Maye in the Skills Showdown, you can do so on Thursday, January 30 from 7-8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. If you want to watch Maye in the actual Pro Bowl Championship, which is a Flag Football format, that'll be on Sunday, February 2 from 3-6 p.m.
Will Maye, the 2022 ACC Player of the Year who threw for 8,018 yards and 63 touchdowns during his Tar Heels career, earn more accolades as his NFL career progresses?
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