Drake Maye Projected to Debut in the NFL's Top 10 of 2026

Drake Maye really proved his value in 2026. He and the New England Patriots got all the way to the Super Bowl, and even though it didn’t go the way that he wanted, just getting there should earn Maye a spot on the NFL‘s Top 100 Players of 2026 list when it comes out on June 22.

NFL Top 100 is a player-voted countdown series from NFL Films and X. It debuts Monday, June 22 at 10 a.m. ET only on X.

There were a ton of breakout stars in 2025 that haven’t made the cut before, and this could be their year. Maye is one of them. There’s literally no way, in my opinion, that a young player who led his team to the Super Bowl last season won’t make the top 100. But, where will he land?

More news: Browns Quarterback Looks ‘More Poised' Before Training Camp

NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks thinks Maye will be inside the top 10. It’s a fair assumption.

“The 2025 MVP runner-up should sit high atop the list after leading the Patriots on an unexpected Super Bowl run,” he says in a feature, adding that Maye led the NFL in completion rate, became the eighth quarterback in league history to finish a season with at least 4,000 yards and 30 passing touchdowns while successfully completing 70% or more of his passes.

More sports news: George Pickens-Cowboys Standoff Coming to a Resolution: Report

“He struggled in the postseason, but the third-year pro's efficiency and effectiveness were reflected in his league-best 113.5 passer rating and his 13 games with a passer rating of 100 or better,” Brooks says in the feature. “Given his spectacular play as a young passer adapting to a new system, the Patriots' QB1 is squarely in the discussion as one of the league's top-five quarterbacks.”

Where Will Drake Maye Land on the Top 100 NFL Players’ List?

Top 10 is a fair guess for where Maye will land on the tally. But, there are enough players that had bold and unbeatable 2025 showings that Maye could certainly fall to the top 20 range. My guess is that he lands somewhere between No. 8 and 15. Either way, if the Patriots get back to the big game next season, that will boost his stock immensely.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 9:26 AM.