Quick answer: how old is Drake Maye in 2026
Drake Maye was born on December 26, 2000, making him 25 years old during the 2025 calendar year and turning 26 in late 2026. As of the 2025 NFL season, he is a rookie quarterback with the New England Patriots. This profile clarifies his age using verified birth records, outlines his college career at North Carolina, and summarizes his draft and early professional timeline. The following sections provide a durable breakdown of biographical facts, career context, and useful comparisons for long-term reference.
Verified biographical details
Birth date and age calculation
Consistent public records, including official recruiting profiles and draft registries, list December 26, 2000, as Drake Maye's date of birth. Using that date, he turned 25 on December 26, 2025, and will turn 26 on December 26, 2026. Age calculations below are based on that fixed birth date.
Physical attributes and measurables
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) | NFL Draft measurements |
| Weight | 224 pounds (102 kg) | NFL Draft measurements |
| Arm length | 33 inches | NFL Combine |
| Hand span | 10 1/8 inches | NFL Combine |
College career and development
Drake Maye played college football at the University of North Carolina from 2020 to 2024. He served as a backup during his first two seasons, competed for starting time in 2022, and became the established starter in 2023. His UNC totals include thousands of passing yards and multiple touchdown–interception ratios that drew attention from professional evaluators.
- 2020: Redshirt season; occasional practice reps and limited action.
- 2021: Backup role; situational plays and development.
- 2022: Emergent starter; showcased arm talent and mobility.
- 2023: Full-time starter; led North Carolina to key wins and bowl appearance.
2024 NFL Draft and entry into the league
In the 2024 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Drake Maye with the 13th overall pick. The choice reflected his blend of size, arm strength, and athletic traits, as well as needs at the quarterback position. His early months with the Patriots focused on playbook learning, preseason repetitions, and competing for the backup role behind the incumbent starter.
2025 season status with the Patriots
During the 2025 regular season, Drake Maye appeared in limited preseason action and remained in a backup or developmental role. Roster moves and depth chart decisions varied by week, consistent with a rookie quarterback building experience. No game appearances were logged in the 2025 regular season at the time of this writing, though training camp and organizational assignments indicated an incremental path toward increased responsibility.
Contextual comparisons
Placing Drake Maye alongside recent quarterback cohorts helps clarify expectations and timelines. The following table compares draft year, team, and draft round for a short set of quarterbacks with similar profiles.
| Player | Team | Draft Year | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | New England Patriots | 2024 | 1st |
| Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders | 2024 | 2nd |
| Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers | 2023 | 1st |
What to watch going forward
For long-term tracking, key milestones include preseason performance, depth-chart positioning, and any regular season opportunities. Observing practice repetitions, third-down repetitions, and scout-team usage provides low-noise indicators of progress. Because roster situations and coaching plans evolve, sustained development and health will be the clearest predictors of future snaps and eventual starting trajectory.