The New England Patriots will start quarterback Drake Maye in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said in a Thursday news conference.
The Patriots (3-13) are slotted as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft heading into their season finale and would secure the selection with a loss in Sunday’s game. Beating the Bills on Sunday could reshape the top five selections with the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants potentially moving into the top slot depending on how this weekend’s games play out.
“He’ll be starting the game, for sure,” Van Pelt said definitively Thursday.
Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, has started 11 games this season completing 66.8 percent of his passes for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Maye has also rushed for 421 yards and two touchdowns this year.
GO DEEPER
Why the Patriots should rest Drake Maye — even though they probably won’t
The Patriots have gone 2-9 with Maye as the starting QB. He took over as New England’s starter in Week 6 after the team opened the season 1-4 with Jacoby Brissett in the lineup.
“I think I’m going to be the starter, so I’m looking forward to being out there,” Maye said earlier this week. “I’m ready to go out there and win and compete in a close game. I want to be out there. You get experiences in these close games that you can’t replicate in practice. You can’t get those reps anywhere else. So, looking forward to, like I said, getting one more chance at these guys and end off on a good note.”
Required reading
(Photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images)
