Drake Maye seems to have fixed one of his biggest problems since joining the New England Patriots: his awful decision-making.
Since he was a rookie, Maye has had questionable decision-making. He held on to the ball too long, tried to play hero ball instead of just throwing it away or taking the sack, and made numerous boneheaded interceptions/fumbles.
From the beginning of the playoffs last season through the first three games of this season, the UNC alum threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and he fumbled the ball nine times (lost five of them).
But since then, Maye looks way better and more composed under center, and it's clear that his decision-making has gotten better. And if that keeps up, then he should be able to take his development to the next step and really level up as an NFL-level quarterback.
Drake Maye's decision-making as Patriots' QB has greatly improved
In his last three games, Maye has thrown 10 touchdowns, one interception (which wasn't really his fault; it was the weird throw that bobbled out of Romeo Doubs' hands when he was making a diving catch and then landed in the hands of a Buffalo Bills defender in Week 4), and he has fumbled three times and lost one of them, but those were all against Buffalo, too. He's played clean football the last two weeks.
Maye has made much quicker decisions, is throwing the ball away much more often now, and he isn't forcing anything. New England's offense has turned the corner since he got out of his own head, and that's definitely not a coincidence.
It was a brutal start to the year for Maye, but he's looking much closer to the player who finished second in MVP voting last season, and fans should be happy with his development and his trajectory.
Drake Maye is proving he's the real deal with the Patriots
I never fully bought into the whole schedule discourse surrounding Maye. I will concede that the Patriots in general benefited from an easier schedule last season, and it played a big role in their Super Bowl run, but that completely undermined just how good the North Carolina native looked last season.
He was making all kinds of impressive throws, and he didn't look like a second-year player for most of the season. You can face an easy schedule, but that doesn't automatically mean you're going to look good or your team will be successful. It just means you're better than who you faced.
Maye and the Patriots are still responsible for Buffalo's only loss on the season so far (the Bills are 5-1 heading into their bye week), and the Las Vegas Raiders were 3-1 before their matchup in Week 4. The 24-year-old is the real deal, and he's only going to get better from here on out.
New England found its guy. And now that it looks like his biggest problem might be fixed once and for all, Patriots fans should be excited to see what his future has in store.
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