With the NFL season underway, the New England Patriots are evaluating quarterback Drake Maye as potential franchise material. A critical metric analysts often evaluate is whether rookie quarterbacks make the playoffs within their first two seasons as starters.
Playoff Performance as a Benchmark for Quarterbacks
Historically, most quarterbacks drafted in the first round since 2000 achieved playoff success early in their careers. While there are exceptions, the correlation is striking. Analyzing data from the last few decades, we can categorize quarterbacks based on their playoff appearances within their initial years.
Categories of Quarterbacks
- Hall of Fame-Capable Legends
- Today’s Startable Quarterbacks
- Passes and Busts from the Past
Successful Quarterbacks: Early Playoff Appearances
Many successful quarterbacks reached the playoffs within their first two seasons:
- Tom Brady
- Joe Montana
- John Elway
- Peyton Manning
- Dan Marino
- Kurt Warner
- Brett Favre
- Aaron Rodgers
- Ben Roethlisberger
- Eli Manning
- Matt Ryan
- Philip Rivers
This group emphasizes that success often begins early in a quarterback’s career, setting a strong precedent for future performance.
Quarterbacks without Early Success
On the flip side, several notable quarterbacks did not make the playoffs in their initial two years:
- Robert Griffin III
- Vince Young
- Mark Sanchez
- Colin Kaepernick
- Mitchell Trubisky
- Tim Tebow
These players began with playoff appearances but eventually faltered. Additionally, a lengthy list of quarterbacks, like Matt Leinart and Joey Harrington, never managed to lead their teams into postseason contention.
Modern Quarterbacks Standing Out
Among today’s quarterbacks, many have achieved early playoff success, indicating they are likely future franchise players. Noteworthy names include:
- Patrick Mahomes
- Josh Allen
- Lamar Jackson
- Joe Burrow
- Jalen Hurts
This trend suggests that early success can be a strong indicator of a quarterback’s potential to lead a franchise.
Patterns of Early Success
Most successful quarterbacks showed early playoff success, while those who struggled often faced difficulties throughout their careers. This divide highlights the importance of early performances in assessing a quarterback’s trajectory. As the Patriots analyze Drake Maye, this historic evidence serves as a benchmark for evaluating his potential as a franchise quarterback.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if the Patriots wish to gauge whether Drake Maye can become a franchise quarterback, they need to weigh his early playoff success against the lessons learned from NFL history. The statistics and trends clearly indicate that early playoff appearances are a strong indicator of future success for quarterbacks.
