The current New England Patriots starting quarterback is Drake Maye, a young passer the team drafted to be their new franchise QB.

Who is the Patriots quarterback right now?

  • Drake Maye is an American quarterback for the New England Patriots in the NFL.
  • He was drafted third overall by the Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft, their highest QB pick since Drew Bledsoe in 1993.
  • By 2025–26, he had taken over as the starter and is treated as the team’s new franchise quarterback.

In short, when people say “the Patriot quarterback” in current NFL talk, they’re almost always referring to Drake Maye.

Quick timeline of the Patriot quarterback

  • 2024: Patriots draft Drake Maye at No. 3 overall, sign him to a four‑year fully guaranteed deal, and initially sit him behind veteran Jacoby Brissett.
  • 2024 season: Maye makes his regular-season debut in Week 3 and is named the starter on October 8 after the team’s early struggles.
  • 2025: Coverage and analytics pieces describe him as an exciting young QB and the centerpiece of the Patriots’ offense, including playoff talk and big-game matchups (for example, vs. Justin Herbert’s Chargers).
  • 2025–26: Stat and roster trackers list Drake Maye among the quarterbacks playing for the Patriots, underscoring his role as the main option.

How he’s viewed around the league

  • Analysts describe Drake Maye as a rising star and the “new franchise quarterback” for New England.
  • One ESPN analyst even ranked him at the top of young quarterbacks to build a franchise around among those drafted since 2020, which shows how high his ceiling is perceived to be.
  • Comparisons have been made between Maye and Josh Allen in terms of physical tools and potential play style.

Forum and fan discussion flavor

Fan and forum chatter around the “Patriot quarterback” often mixes three eras:

  • The Tom Brady legacy era, where people tie quarterback play to “The Patriot Way.”
  • The turbulent post‑Brady stretch with Mac Jones and others, which led to a lot of soul‑searching about the team’s identity.
  • The hopeful Drake Maye era, where fans debate whether he can restore long‑term stability at quarterback and bring back consistent winning.

You’ll see takes like:

“The Patriots finally have their new guy in Drake Maye; now the question is whether the rest of the roster and coaching catch up.”

Latest news angle you should know

  • Recent pieces highlight playoff matchups featuring Drake Maye, framing him as one of the more exciting young QBs in the league already.
  • Debate shows and sports talk segments use him in “which young QB would you start a franchise with?” conversations, usually as a top‑tier option.

So, if you’re writing or searching around “patriot quarterback,” centering Drake Maye—his draft status, rapid rise to starter, and “future of the franchise” narrative—will match the latest NFL and forum discussion.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.