Drake Maye: Rising Football Star on the Horizon
Drake Maye is emerging as a rising football star, with a standout performance against the New York Jets that set multiple records. He became the first player in NFL history to complete more than 90% of his passes while achieving at least 250 yards and scoring five touchdowns in a single game. Remarkably, Maye accomplished this feat in just one half, throwing only two additional passes in the second half.
Historic Achievement
On this record-setting day, Maye completed 32 of 35 attempts for a total of 279 yards. However, while his achievement was historic, it did not rank among the best performances in terms of DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement). The New York Jets’ defensive struggles played a significant role in this assessment.
Opponent Adjustments and DYAR Analysis
The Jets currently have the worst pass defense in the NFL for the 2025 season, with a DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) of 43.9%. If the season were to conclude today, this would mark the fifth-worst pass defense DVOA dating back to 1978. This poor performance affected Maye’s evaluation, as his game adjusted to a DYAR of only 229, ranking it the fourth-best quarterback performance of the year.
Comparative Performance
- Top Quarterback Game: Matthew Stafford’s performance against the Seattle Seahawks yielded a DYAR of 266.
- Efficiency Rating: Maye’s passing VOA (Value Over Average) stands at an impressive 150.2%, placing him 16th among quarterback games since 1978.
- Historic Games: The highest VOA recorded was by Brian Sipe for the 1978 Browns, at 182.1% for 15 completions on 22 attempts, totaling 309 yards and four touchdowns.
- Recent Comparison: Lamar Jackson’s game against Miami in 2023 also surpassed Maye’s performance with a higher VOA.
Conclusion
Drake Maye’s impressive outing against the Jets showcases his potential as a top-tier quarterback. While his statistics were affected by opponent adjustments, the recognition he has garnered demonstrates his talent. As he continues to develop, Maye could solidify himself as one of the league’s rising stars, making future performances worth watching.
