New England Patriots
“It’s a great throw by Drake, perfectly on time, under pressure. That was one of the best throws of the season.”
Drake Maye has had no shortage of jaw-dropping plays this season amid a breakout year that could end with both an MVP and Super Bowl title.
Given Maye’s impressive body of work, it came as little surprise that Patriots legend Tom Brady included two plays from New England’s current franchise QB on his list of the best throws of the 2025 NFL season.
This first play that Brady put a spotlight on was Maye’s 72-yard TD throw to Kyle Williams during New England’s Week 10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Beyond the ball placement to Williams on a tight crossing route, Brady applauded Maye’s ability to deliver the dart without having the luxury of stepping up into the throw.
“Drake steps up in the pocket, but because he gets pressure off the right side of the screen, he’s not really allowed to step into this throw, because he would run his body into the defensive end,” Brady explained. “Instead, [he] throws it slightly off balance and sticks his front foot, basically, to the left of his target, adjusts his arm angle as he’s throwing, gets hit as he’s throwing, and again, with enough pace and velocity that the defensive back from the Bucs tries to undercut it.
“The worst thing a DB can do is try to undercut a pass and miss it, because once the receiver catches it, he’s already got the defender stacked, and then it’s a clear path for Williams to the house. It’s a great throw by Drake, perfectly on time, under pressure. That was one of the best throws of the season.”
Maye had several highlight-reel plays in New England’s Week 5 road victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football — including getting a pass off to Stefon Diggs for a first down while stiff-arming a Buffalo pass rusher in crunch time.
But Brady singled out Maye’s throw to Diggs while on the run in the third quarter as one that really stood out in a game that first sparked hope that New England was due for an impressive turnaround season.
“Back to Drake Maye. He’s on here a few times,” Brady noted. “Against the Bills, 2nd and 9, rolls right — points the coverage downfield to Stefon Diggs. And then on the run, Stefon Diggs makes a great catch on the sideline. What he did was — this is what you call a second route. You run your initial route. Once you see the quarterback scrambling, you adjust the route. He basically has an out cut.
“When he breaks on the out cut, he realizes, ‘Oh, the ball’s not in the air.’ He whirly birds around Tre’Davious White, runs for green grass, and then Drake and Stefon are on the same page, knowing where that green grass is. Drake throws it to green grass. Stefon runs there, and then Stefon makes a great catch on the sideline — drags his feet, toe- taps them, and makes a huge gain against the Bills.”
There are several other deserving candidates when it comes to Maye’s top plays so far this season — including his deep heave down the field to Kyle Williams (Dec. 21 vs. Baltimore) and Kayshon Boutte’s one-handed snag against the Texans last Sunday in the AFC divisional round.
But Diggs was candid on Wednesday when asked about his favorite throw from Maye this season.
“The next one,” the veteran wideout declared.
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