When Tom Brady left the New England Patriots , there should have been an expectation that some down years were going to follow. It is hard to replace a franchise quarterback, and nearly impossible to replace one of the legends of the game. For five years, they struggled with Cam Newton and Mac Jones being unable to fill the void left by Brady's absence.

They might finally have a quarterback in Drake Maye who can start filling it.

Certainly not to Brady's level (that is an unreachable bar), but likely to a level that is going to give them a chance to compete in the very near future. Perhaps even as soon as this season.

Drake Maye's emergence is reopening the Patriots' window for contention

Maye's rookie season had some obvious ups and downs, which is to be expected from a rookie quart

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