Bedard's Breakdown: Pressure allowed by the offensive line compounding Drake Maye's many issues

One of the least-talked-about factors in Drake Maye's terrible start to this season came to a head against the Jaguars: the quarterback pressure allowed.

There are plenty of different stats out there (NGS and PFF are the most popular), but according to my gamecharting, Maye was pressured 56.4% of his dropbacks against the Jaguars. That's unacceptable and makes it almost impossible for the passer to play at an adequate level.

It is difficult to quantify how much that affects an athletic quarterback like Maye compared to a pocket passer like Tom Brady, because they naturally invite more pressure since they keep plays alive longer than Brady-types. They also run plays (like naked bootlegs) where an unblocked rusher is likely to be there, but the QB has to elude him on his own. And QBs often cause their own pressure (Maye was responsible for 1 sack, ½ knockdown, and 1 hurry against the Jaguars) because they think they can get out of anything (Maye's issues this year has been him holding the ball too long and playing in the rhythm of the offense).

For Brady, I thought 35% pressure was iffy, 40% would affect him, and 45% or higher was basically a death sentence. For Maye, I would bump it up to 40, 45 and 50.

So far this season, the Patriots have allowed 39%, 45% and now 56%. 

According to Sumer Sports, Maye has been the third-most pressured starter this season.

For 2025, he was 8th (40.6%).

Here are the least-pressured QBs of 2026. Some pretty good QBs on that list (of course, they also help themselves by throwing in the rhythm of the offense, with anticipation and conviction, which Maye is not doing).

Not only has this compounded Maye's issues (which are very real), but it has affected Josh McDaniels' ability to be more creative. There's a constant ying and yang for coordinators. You'd love to get all five eligible receivers out into a route on every pass play. But if the five blockers aren't going to hold up, is that wise? McDaniels has obviously prioritized Maye's protection with multiple additional blockers and/or using the backs and tight ends to chip. It makes sense, especially if you're trying to get a young quarterback to settle down and play slower. You'd want to him to feel safe in the pocket, but Maye obviously does not. For example, he took a red zone sack against the Steelers against a three-man rush after bolting the pocket in .5 seconds. Then there was this play late in the second quarter on Sunday, when the Jaguars only rushed two edges (Will Campbell allowed a pressure) and dropped both their mammoth DTs into coverage. 

Did Maye just climb the pocket a little and look to thread the zone defense down the field? No, he started to run, pulled up when he saw 335-pound DaVon Hamilton coming at him, then threw off-balance and wildly to DeMario Douglas. On the next play, Maye airmailed Douglas on what should have been a wide-open touchdown.

Pressure has a cumulative effect, and it's part of Maye's issues.

The problem for McDaniels is that it has been something different every week (other than LT Will Campbell, amazingly). Alijah Vera-Tucker was terrible against the Seahawks, but really good since. Jared Wilson was awful against the Steelers, but great against the Jaguars. It was right guard's turn this week, as Mike Onwenu replacements Greg Van Roten (IR today) and Walter Rouse were flat-out awful.

Let's also not forget that first-round pick Caleb Lomu was nearly as bad in his 26 snaps as the jumbo TE and as a reserve right tackle. Morgan Moses looked like he tweaked a foot on the second play of the game and struggled (for him). Hopefully it's temporary, and not that he's starting to show his age, because there was some leakage against T.J. Watt and the Steelers.

This doesn't excuse Maye's play, because it keeps getting worse every week. But the protection is not helping, and now they'll likely try Ben Brown at right guard. Hopefully it works, because Maye has little chance of reversing his downward play if his line doesn't protect him better. 

Here are the positional ratings against the Jaguars:

OFFENSE

Quarterback (0 out of 5)

We have a new leader for the worst quarterbacked game by a Patriots starter since Mac Jones was drafted in 2021.

I broke down the big missed plays on Monday. 

It's the same thing every game so far. Most of it is that Maye doesn't trust his receivers. He's never been a guy who has thrown with anticipation, so he's not about to start now with DeMario Douglas, Romeo Doubs and Kyle Williams. He's late with everything. When he does decide to throw it, he's guiding it, trying to be precise and not make a mistake. ... Maye never throws in the middle of the field, where you have to have conviction and anticipation. That's a tough way to live. There have been plays, and he turns them down. Trevor Lawrence was throwing to guys who were "covered" but he throws them open, or throws to an area. Watch the Jakobi Meyers TD from the end zone. Lawrence starts his throwing motion before Meyers is even in the frame, then rips it. Maye has never done that. 

Watch this throw by Case Keenum last night.

Maye never makes this throw in a million years, not at least until he plays more with these guys. He's had Douglas on those types of plays. If I knew what I would get from the defense, I would call an in-breaker route to Douglas and make Maye throw it him no matter what the result. If he makes one of those throws, he'll be OK.

Opponents have adjusted to Maye. I think the book on Maye now is to take away the 1-on-1s on the outside, force him to throw to the middle against zone where he lacks self-confidence and/or trust in his targets, or take the checkdowns. He's just a mental mess at this point. I don't think there's anything physically wrong with him; his footwork has regressed. He's never had the weight of his world on his shoulders, not against guys better than him. In high school and in the ACC, he was always more talented. Maybe a stint in the SEC would have prepared him better for the NFL.

I wanted to contrast Maye from last year to this year, so I watched a highlight video. See how many of his big plays were 50/50 balls against man coverage on the outside, schemed open, off broken plays with his arm or legs, or great catches by his receivers (Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins all ranked very highly in catch rate over expected last season). Now compare that to throws from the pocket on time over the middle. I'd say it's about 90/10. That's not playing quarterback in this league, that's being a playmaker. Opponents are playing zone and forcing him to play quarterback from the pocket without Diggs, Boutte (and now Brown), and it hasn't gone well. The only other quarterback worse against zone coverage in EPA/DB this season has been Baker Mayfield, and five of Maye's six interceptions have come against zone (of course, he's also 29th against man coverage). 

Running backs (2 out of 5)

The Patriots' running backs ranked in the 30s in the NFL in Week 3 in average yards before contact. So in addition to the pressure, the line is not getting much push in the run game. ... That being said Rhamondre Stevenson is still doing his best to get something out of nothing with three plus runs. He also had a great blitz pickup that resulted in a "hurry" but it was still a good play. ... Stevenson (2.14) and even Corey Kiner (2.67) each had better yards after contact/attempt than TreVeyon Henderson (1.63). Henderson was supposed to get trick pass from Efton Chism, but Hunter Henry missed another block. ... Oh, by the way, is Reggie Gilliam playing?

Receivers (2.5 out of 5)

Mack Hollins was awesome (even with his ridiculous taunting penalty), and everything else was either bad or meh. ... Maye only trusts Hollins and Hunter Henry, and the newly extended tight end looks like he's at the end of the line. He has blown several key blocks this season, and he is extremely slow getting into his routes down the field to the point he's not really an option, which Maye desperately needs (hurry back, Eli Raridon). I hope he's dealing with something and that's causing Henry to play like this, otherwise the Patriots are in trouble now and in the future. Henry looked similarly last year in the playoffs, but I chalked it up to a long season and Henry being asked to play and block too much. This just might be his level right now, and that's worrisome. ... I still think Kyle Williams can be useful (if Maye throws him the ball when he's open), but his obvious lack of football instincts has to put his future in doubt. He stopped on the interception, and then he stepped out of bounds on the kickoff? Get dialed in, young man. This is your profession. ... I think Romeo Doubs showed some good signs in this game (the OPI was kind of BS), but Maye is going to have to force-feed him the ball to get the passing game going. ... Cam Latu went offsides and had a block in the back on kickoff. Come on, man.

Offensive line (2 out of 5)

DEFENSE

Defensive line (1 out of 5)

Elijah Ponder and Gabe Jacas actually made plays (along with some mistakes). No one else did anything as the Patriots lost on both lines. ... The Patriots are paying Milton Williams (worst game I can remember) and Christian Barmore a lot of money, and they are not holding up their end of the bargain outside of Barmore's strip sack last week. ... Speaking of money, I can't believe the Patriots are paying DaQuan Jones $6 million. He is getting shoved all over the place. It might be time to cut bait. He's not the droid they're looking for.

Linebackers (2.5 out of 5)

Feels like this is every week now. One linebacker plays great (Christian Elliss again), and the other does not (Robert Spillane). Elliss is making himself a lot of money in a contract year.

Secondary (3 out of 5)

Cornerbacks Carlton Davis (penalty), Christian Gonzalez (got turned around by Jakobi Meyers on a 14-yard catch) and Marcus Jones (touchdown allowed on a playcall I did not like) continue to be the strength of this team. ... Safety has been a challenge. Kevin Byard has been OK, but gave up the edge on a 12-yard run. Jaylen Reed had good coverage on the interception (it should have been caught) but was awful and a target otherwise, with a missed tackle on a 23-yard gain and a touchdown allowed to Meyers. Mike Brown got into the game and promptly didn't fill on Chris Rodriguez's walk-in 5-yard TD run up the middle (how embarrassing for a defense).

THREE UP

C Jared Wilson: Terrible last week. Great this week. Can we get some consistency, please? Asking for a QB.

WR Mack Hollins: Patriots Nation turns its lonely eyes to the Barefoot Mack-tessa to rescue their QB. He might do it.

LB Christian Elliss: Slipped a little against the run late, but he continues to fly all over the place.

SIX DOWN

QB Drake Maye: Patriots won't win another game if he keeps turning it over like this. 

Right guard: This spot has turned into a disaster. I never knew I would miss Mike Onwenu this much.

S Jaylen Reed: I'm shocked the Texans had him play in space in the playoffs last year. He's much better near the line. He's like a modern Patrick Chung.

DT DaQuan Jones: Would I be surprised if he retired? No, I wouldn't. He's just too light for what they need.

DT Milton Williams and TE Hunter Henry: Both guys are making too much money and being relied upon too much to play like this.