One of the few Super Bowl champions left on the Patriots’ roster wants to return in 2025 — and Drake Maye is a “big reason” why.

What does it say when the worst team in the NFL makes a change at quarterback in the last game of the season with the first overall pick at stake? The New England Patriots did exactly that on Sunday in their season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

Drake Maye’s road to becoming the Patriots’ starting quarterback was slow and deliberate. Understandable — the rookie is the franchise’s prized asset who must be treated with care. But once it became official,

The Patriots’ leading receiver is inactive vs. the Bills, and the team will make all three quarterbacks active for the first time all season.

And that’s part of why this shouldn’t be that difficult of a decision for the Patriots. Don’t play Drake Maye. Rest Christian Gonzalez, who is in the concussion protocol. Ensure the two pillars of this rebuild are ready to go for 2025.

Eight of nine Patriots rookies played in the season finale. Only wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk was inactive for the win over the Bills.

The Patriots saw all they needed out of Drake Maye this season. Maye played one series in Sunday’s season finale against the Bills before being sat for fellow rookie Joe Milton III. It’s Milton’s first career NFL snaps since being selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Tennessee.

Although Alex Van Pelt is still technically on the Patriots payroll, as reports have not revealed him to be let go (yet), a few names have come into play that fans would like to see take over as the playcaller.