After a vastly profitable common season, second-year New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has emerged as a number one contender for the NFL Most Beneficial Participant award.
Based on ESPN Guess, Maye and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford are the highest two favorites, with the New England signal-caller holding the very best odds at +225 as of Jan. 16.
This season, Maye threw for 31 touchdowns in opposition to simply eight interceptions, whereas Stafford posted 46 touchdowns with the identical interception complete.
Supporters of Stafford’s candidacy typically level to Maye’s comparatively simpler schedule and decrease landing complete, however these arguments fail to carry up beneath nearer examination.
Right here’s why Maye deserves to be named the 2025 NFL MVP, which will likely be introduced Feb. 5:
High quality of TDs
Uncooked landing totals don’t inform the complete story. Context issues.
Of Stafford’s 46 landing passes, 13 came from the opponent’s three-yard line or closer. His common landing throw traveled 13.8 yards.
Maye, against this, threw solely six touchdowns from contained in the three-yard line, and his common landing cross traveled 18.33 yards.
Whereas Stafford’s quantity statistics are spectacular, a deeper look reveals that Maye generated his manufacturing from tougher throws, strengthening his MVP case.
Different superior stats
Superior analytics additional separate the 2 quarterbacks. Anticipated factors added per play (EPA) and completion share over expectation (CPOE) are two of the very best indicators of quarterback effectivity.
The elite performers reside within the top-right quadrant when these metrics are charted collectively. By these requirements, Maye stands clearly above the sector, outperforming Stafford throughout each measures.
