The NFL MVP Race, Now Led by Drake Maye
After the Patriots’ Week 2 game against the Miami Dolphins, I wrote an article calling out fans who titled him “the new Mac Jones” and stated that he had proven his potential to be a top quarterback in the league. I hoped to be proven right, but never expected it to be so soon. 11 weeks later, Maye is the favorite to win the NFL MVP award and is being recognized by the masses as the new elite franchise quarterback of the Patriots. It seems too good to be true, but will it really result in Maye hoisting the trophy at the NFL Honors? Let’s dive deeper into the MVP race, looking at Maye and the other contenders.
The Favorite: Drake Maye (-120)
Drake Maye, a 2nd-year quarterback who was +5000 to win the award before the season, now has more than a 50% chance to win MVP, according to Rotowire. Who could have predicted this meteoric rise, a sophomore standout year instead of a slump from the former North Carolina quarterback?
It’s incredible how much a good offseason can change. From 170 pass yards per game as a rookie to leading the league in yards in 2025, Maye has shown unbelievable improvement and has helped the Patriots to the best record in the NFL. His efficiency has been incredible, leading the league in both completion percentage and passer rating, just ahead of the other main contender for this award…
The Challenger: Matthew Stafford (+130)
Stafford held the title of MVP favorite for a couple of weeks before Maye swiped it just this week. The switch came after a two-interception performance broke Stafford’s record-setting streak of 28 touchdowns without an interception. Even though the streak is over, Stafford still arguably has better statistics than Maye. His 32 passing touchdowns pace the league, while his 111.7 passer rating is just 0.2 behind his rival’s.
The argument against Stafford, however, is that he benefits from maybe the best receiving duo in the NFL: Puka Nacua and Davonte Adams. His strong supporting cast might work against him in the MVP vote, as voters could favor Maye, who did a little bit less with a lot less help.
The Dark Horses: Dak Prescott (+1600) and Patrick Mahomes (+10000)
Dak Prescott has a better case for MVP than most people are giving him credit for. The Cowboys are 6-5-1, firmly in the fight for a wild-card spot. Prescott leads the league in QBR, pass yards per game, and is second in attempts. While he also has a top-tier receiving duo that has aided his stat lines, his defense has been awful, and his outstanding performances have sparked a postseason push. If the Cowboys make the playoffs, he has a great case to win the award.
The same goes for Patrick Mahomes. If the Chiefs make the playoffs from their current standing (6-6, 10th in the AFC), it will be by the willpower and on the back of Mahomes. His stats mirror Prescott’s across the board, and his receivers are much less impressive. While he isn’t even in the MVP conversation at the moment, don’t be surprised if he slips in when the Chiefs attempt to run the table.
While Drake may lead the MVP race at the moment, it’s far from over, and a few down weeks or impressive runs by the other candidates could swing the odds quickly. It’s been an incredible sophomore season for the beloved young signal caller, and Patriots fans should be overjoyed with his performance, whether he wins the award or not.