Patriots QB Drake Maye faces Bears' Caleb Williams in 2024 draft rematch
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The gist
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, taken No. 3 in 2024, met No.
The two top-drafted QBs are forever linked, and Maye had been on a hot streak.
Background
Drake Maye is the New England Patriots quarterback taken No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft; Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears quarterback, went No. 1 in that same draft. The two are permanently linked by those draft positions, and Thursday night's Bears-Patriots game was billed as a showdown between them. Maye has already taken his team to a Super Bowl, while Williams drove a string of comebacks last season and nearly had the Bears in the NFC Championship Game.
How it unfolded
- 2024Caleb Williams went No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft and Drake Maye went No. 3.
- 2024In their first meeting as rookies, Maye's Patriots beat Williams' Bears 19-3 in Chicago.
- Feb 8, 2026Maye addressed the media after the Patriots' Super Bowl LX loss.
- Oct 18, 2026Maye spoke after New England's Week 6 win over the New York Jets; he avoided a sack for just the second time in his career.
- Oct 21, 2026Maye was asked whether he admires any part of Williams' game, and praised his arm talent and ability to throw on the run.
- Oct 22, 2026Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon sacked Maye on fourth down, and linebacker D'Marco Jackson intercepted him in the end zone.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Maye said of Williams: "Him in the pocket, I don't know if I could do some of the things he can do... he's got crazy arm talent, and it's fun to watch."
- Analysts
- The matchup was framed as a showdown between the top two quarterbacks of the 2024 draft, forever linked by their draft positions.