During the 2024 NFL season, I will cover two rookies each week in the Rookie Report Card and generally write about that week’s standout players. I discuss how well he has met expectations at the NFL level and then evaluate the player in three categories: past performance, rookie season potential and long-term potential.

Drake Maye, QB NE

Week 16 stats: 22 completions on 36 attempts for 261 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception and six carries for 30 rushing yards.

In a surprisingly hard-fought game between the 3-11 Patriots and 11-3 Bills, Maye turned in one of the better performances of his young career, keeping the Patriots in a game in which they were 14-point underdogs. I would consider this a typical game from Maye as his overall results in this competition were very close to his season averages. He didn’t do anything to make you lose that week, but he also didn’t do anything to really help you win, finishing Week 16 as QB15.