Drake Maye saw action in 13 contests as a rookie in 2024, and along the way was sacked 34 times. As a sophomore, it took him only nine games to match that total: the second most-sacked quarterback in football
through Week 9, Maye has been taken down 34 times already this year.
This puts him on pace for 64 sacks on the season, which would be the team’s highest total since the foursome of Hugh Millen, Scott Zolak, Tom Hodson and Jeff Carlson was taken down 65 combined times during the 1992 season. Needless to say, that is not company Maye would aspire to be in.
However, the high sack total stands in contrast to the pressure Maye has faced. While second in sacks and sack percentage (11.8%), he is ranked ninth among the most pressured passers in the NFL (37.8%). So, where does the disconnect — i.e. a pressure-to-sack rate of 27.4% — lie?
According to the man himself, a lot of it has to do with his own presence in the pocket and desire to keep plays alive.
“I think those guys, speaking offensive line, have done a great job all year. A lot of the sacks I have taken have been my fault, me holding the football,” Maye explained on Wednesday.
The numbers and tape support Maye’s claim: on the year, only 13 of his takedowns can be pinned on the individual offensive linemen in front of him. The other 21 sacks are largely the result of Maye maneuvering into traffic or being either tackled or forced out before reaching the line of scrimmage on scramble drills.
The 23-year-old is aware that this has been a problem. The solution lies in practice and improving his own situational awareness.
“Just like anything else, we try to work on in practice and try to simulate drills and be really good when we’re on our team periods, trying to avoid it,” Maye said. “From there, just don’t make it too big a deal because I think there are some times where we’re still making plays when I do try to extend plays. So, just know the point of the play, try to get that and execute it.”
Last week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons was a prime example of Maye missing that point. Late in the first half, with the Patriots holding a 21-7 lead and moving toward scoring range again, he was strip-sacked on a play that saw the offensive line give up quick pressure. Instead of taking the loss, however, he tried to move away from defender Jalon Walker and in the process lost the football.
Entering the NFL with clear dual-threat potential, Maye scrambling, extending plays or operating off-script has been a big part of his success so far in his career. Most of the times, the result work in the Patriots’ favor, too.
However, it also has proved itself a double-edged sword — one that has contributed to some of the sacks he has taken and has exposed him to a high number of hits.
