Drake Maye Leads NFL in Interceptions, Rival Coaches and Scouts Question His Decision-Making

Drake Maye went from Super Bowl starter and MVP runner-up to the quarterback with the most interceptions in the NFL.

Through three games in 2026, Maye has completed 63.7% of his passes for 585 yards, one touchdown, and six interceptions, according to Newsweek. He's also lost two fumbles. His passer rating of 58.6 is the lowest among quarterbacks with more than two starts, according to Heavy. Pro Football Focus grades him 35th out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks, according to Essentially Sports.

The Patriots are 1-2, capped by a 35-6 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in which Maye threw two interceptions and fumbled a pass away, according to Newsweek. Compare that to this point in 2025, when Maye had five touchdowns, two interceptions, and 785 yards on his way to a Super Bowl run, according to Essentially Sports.

What Rivals Are Saying

NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that opposing coaches and scouts who have faced New England this season describe the offense as "choppy and disconnected," with Maye pressing harder to force plays as a result, according to Patriots Wire.

An opposing coach who spoke to The Athletic's Mike Sando went further, breaking down specific plays: a deep cross against Pittsburgh where Maye held the ball too long and let a linebacker recover to make the interception, a red-zone snap where Maye needlessly ran into a defender and "sacked himself," and the Jacksonville fumble where he simply muffed a pass attempt, according to NDTV. The coach's conclusion was blunt: "He looks like he is watching Mahomes and Rodgers in primetime games and is at the flag football game on Saturday afternoon trying to play copycat," he said, per NDTV.

Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano relayed similarly harsh assessments from league evaluators. One AFC scout said Maye "looks like a rookie, and not a particularly good one," adding that if any other player had this stat line, coaches would simply say he isn't ready. Another scout told Vacchiano that Maye's confidence is "completely gone" and that he's making "comical errors" — balls popping out of his hand, throws into tight coverage with no zip, missed reads on open receivers. An NFL assistant coach acknowledged the bind New England is in: Maye looks like he needs time on the bench, but benching a quarterback who nearly won MVP last season isn't realistic, according to Fox Sports.

The Other Side of the Ledger

Several sources argue the situation isn't entirely on Maye. CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported that one opposing coach said New England's offensive system "doesn't do him any favors" and "starts to get real stale," contrasting Maye's situation with quarterbacks like Josh Allen or Tom Brady who could improvise or audible out of a limited playbook, according to Heavy. Another opposing staffer pointed to the absence of star receiver A.J. Brown, who is on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, saying New England's remaining receivers "are getting open" less often.

Pressure has been relentless. Heavy's reporting notes Maye was sacked six times by Seattle in Super Bowl LX, then faced three more sacks and three interceptions against the Seahawks in the 2026 opener, followed by three sacks apiece from Pittsburgh and Jacksonville. Former Super Bowl-winning coach Bruce Arians attributed Maye's struggles to pressing, while Patriots legend Steve Smith Sr. put responsibility on offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the offense as a whole, according to Patriots Wire.

Former Patriots safety Devin McCourty, however, drew a sharper distinction on the Dan Patrick Show. He said last year's surrounding talent wasn't great either, but Maye avoided the kind of turnover-driven mistakes now defining this season. Invoking Bill Belichick, McCourty said the team "can't keep guys on the field that are causing us to lose. It's just not fair to the rest of the guys."

What Comes Next

Head coach Mike Vrabel said after the Jacksonville loss that he wants Maye to relax rather than force plays, according to Newsweek. Pelissero noted that rumors of a rift between Vrabel and Maye drew "chuckles" around the league and aren't accurate, per Patriots Wire.

Maye was listed on the injury report this week with a shoulder issue, but Vrabel told reporters he had no limitations and practiced every rep, saying the team listed it only to follow NFL protocol, according to Newsweek.

New England now travels to face the 3-0 Buffalo Bills, a defense that has allowed 31 points to both the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions this season, according to Newsweek. It's a real opportunity for Maye to answer the turnover problem with his numbers rather than his explanations. Whether a shaky supporting cast or a quarterback searching for highlight-reel throws is the bigger culprit remains an open question that Sunday's film will only partly settle.