Drake Mays makes bold predictions for first NFL start vs. Texans

with new England Patriots Week 6 game scheduled against houston texansAll eyes will be on the rookie quarterback Drake Mays is making his first NFL startnext to patriots-texas gameWe’ll be making our Drake Mays Week 6 predictions.

The Patriots hit the reset button last offseason following the retirement of legendary head coach/general manager Bill Belichick. Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf is now the de facto general manager, and former inside linebackers coach Jerrod Mayo was promoted to the role of head coach. The pair’s legacy will be largely tied to rookie quarterback Drake Mays, whom they selected third overall out of North Carolina last spring.

After backing up Sam Howell as a redshirt freshman in 2021, Mays made his way onto the NFL radar in ’22, rushing for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns (both school records) and seven picks on a 66.2 completion percentage. He also added 698 yards on the ground and seven scores, leading the Tar Heels to the ACC Championship Game and the Holiday Bowl. His breakout campaign earned him ACC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and first-team All-ACC honors.

Mays regressed a bit the following year, but still made second team All-ACC and was ranked high on draft boards. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder was Considered an exciting gunman Via NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein, he needed to improve his decision-making.

“Challenging assessment with top-flight measurable instruments and equipment but discrepancies that create a bottom floor. Mays’ size and arm talent stand out immediately, Zierlein said. “He can make every throw, but he’ll try to make throws he shouldn’t have tried to make. The gun-toting mentality creates a fearlessness that can translate into interceptions, but it will also allow him to win in tight windows and make layups that bring the crowd (and evaluators) to their feet.

“The combination of attributes and tape makes him a speedy/slowdown prospect who may need patient management and coaching to help him move toward his potential.”

With just five weeks left in the season, the Patriots now consider him ready to play in the NFL at just 22 years old. Will this decision bring anger on his face? Let’s discuss this in our Drake Mays Week 6 predictions.

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Drake Mays completes 50-yard pass against Texans

Mays is still raw, but New England didn’t prepare him to be a game manager. That was the role of Jacoby Brissett, who completed 58.5% of his passes for 696 yards with two touchdowns and one pick in the first five games. Although the veteran kept the ball out of harm’s way, he didn’t make many big plays, which is why the Patriots ranked 31st with 12.4 points per game.

Expect Mays to take more shots down the field, which will lead to more turnovers but also more turnover plays. The North Carolina native doesn’t have a ton of talent to work with, but setting up the run with Raimondre Stevenson will help him get looks in the passing game. Complementing the speedy Demario Douglas or Ja’Lin Polk in depth is more feasible while keeping the rookie under center.

Drake Mays will throw two interceptions

At some point, New England will probably lose against the superior Texans, which will force Mays into tight coverage and force throws, especially late in the game. It’s easier to run offenses when the defense is expecting a pass, because it becomes a one-dimensional attack. A rookie making his first start is not prepared to be constantly on the back foot.

Drake Mays would lead two Patriots touchdown drives

That being said, Mays’ arm talent and energy will give New England new life to the offense, leading to passing and rushing touchdowns. The Patriots scored two touchdowns in a game only once this season, which came in a 23–20 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. It would be an impressive performance for a rookie in his first start, as Houston sits in third place. The NFL only allows 5.9 pass yards per attempt.

texas will beat the patriots

Mayes’ performance would be mixed, leading Houston to a two-possession loss. His final stat line would be in the neighborhood of a 55 completion percentage with 200 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and 20 rushing yards, while leading the team to 17 points. It’s not perfect, but it’s a promising performance for an inexperienced rookie against a good pass defense.

Mays’ legacy won’t be defined by this game, but it will go down in Patriots history as the beginning of a fruitful era that finally found Tom Brady’s long-term successor.