Once Drake Maye was given the official start in Week 6 of the 2024 season, it was clear throughout the rest of the year that he had all the tools to be the Patriots' next franchise quarterback. The poise he displayed as a rookie and his natural leadership skills were things that cannot be simply taught, proving the Jerod Mayo era made one good decision in an otherwise underwhelming draft.
What was also apparent with the quarterback, however, was his desire to go above and beyond what was needed to overcompensate for poor offensive play, much of which did not rest solely on his shoulders.