The Patriots are suddenly rolling behind Drake Maye, but Cam Newton isn't ready to hand him elite status just yet.
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New England's rookie quarterback turned in one of his best performances Sunday, going 21 of 23 for 222 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in a 31-13 win over the Titans. The victory marked the Patriots' fourth straight and pushed them to 5-2, but Newton isn't buying the hype — at least not yet.
During ESPN's First Take on Monday, Damien Woody said Maye is "playing like a top-five quarterback." Newton wasn't convinced.
"That's not to discredit anything he's doing," Newton said. "I'm just saying for him to get labeled a top-five quarterback, he has to do it versus well and capable competition on a consistent basis."
Maye's numbers are hard to ignore. Through seven games, he's thrown for 1,744 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just two interceptions, while rushing for another 200 yards and two scores. His 116.4 passer rating ranks third in the NFL, behind only Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff.
.@CameronNewton can't believe @damienwoody said Drake Maye is playing like a top five QB in the league right now 👀 pic.twitter.com/damjedc4oO
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 20, 2025
Still, Newton believes context matters. "Is he playing good football? Yes, he definitely is," Newton said. "But top five in the NFL? That's a little angry. Nothing against Drake Maye — I'm a fan. But these performances came by way of the Tennessee Titans."
Newton's point is fair: Maye hasn't faced the league's best yet. But if he keeps playing like this, that top-five label may not be far off.
