Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez receive early Christmas presents that set them up for even bigger gifts down the road
The Patriots’ star quarterback earned his first Pro Bowl nod and it also sets him up for a big raise in the future.
Drake Maye is having an elite year – there’s no question about it.
The New England Patriots’ star quarterback is fourth in passing yards (3,947) and tied for the fifth-most passing touchdowns (25) among all NFL signal-callers. He leads the NFL in ESPN’s QBR metric (73.4), and he’s also added 347 rushing yards that include four rushing touchdowns.
He’s the catalyst behind the Patriots’ 12-3 record, and everything has officially amounted to the first Pro Bowl nod of his career (original ballot) and what is also likely the first of many more to come.
It’s also set him up for a huge payday down the line, as the Pro Bowl nod triggers a mostly under-the-radar contract incentive for first-round draft picks.
Maye’s fifth-year option just got a whole lot more expensive
First-rounders who make the Pro Bowl within the first three years of their career see their fifth-year salaries increase to what equals the transition tag for the particular season. Maye will see his fifth-year salary jump to whatever the franchise tag is that year if he makes another Pro Bowl in 2026. His fifth year is 2028, so that’s when whatever raise kicks in.
There aren’t any rock-solid numbers on what the transition tag amounts to in 2028, but we can still get an idea of the increase between a standard fifth-year option and an “adjusted” one.
Projections are out for the 2023 class, and Bryce Young, that draft’s No. 1 overall pick, is set to make around $22,394,000 via basic fifth-year salary if his third-year option is approved after this season. Young would’ve seen that number increase to $39,720,000 if he made the Pro Bowl this year.
Two or three Pro Bowls would’ve jumped the $22.394 million number all the way up to $46,073,000.
So, it’s easy to see why making the Pro Bowl means a whole lot more than just an accolade for players on rookie contracts.
Another Pro Bowl likely alters the Patriots’ approach with Maye’s next contract
Maye is already about to cost the Patriots big bucks in 2028, and the key with that year’s salary is it’s all due in cash, and it all comes directly off the top of the salary cap. It’s a situation any NFL GM worth a damn wants to avoid, but it can get even worse if Maye makes the Pro Bowl again in 2026.
It’s already likely the Patriots will approach Maye’s next deal differently with this Pro Bowl nod, but it’s basically guaranteed they will if he makes it again next year.
For instance, look at Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, who just made his first Pro Bowl. Odds are the Lions don’t approve his fifth-year option due to the fact that he’s now due nearly $23 million in 2027.
It’s a result of the NFL’s archaic categorization regarding positions (Campbell is lumped in with linebackers, which includes OLBs like T.J. Watt and Co.), and it will alter the Lions’ approach with Campbell.
Just to be clear: I’m not saying the Patriots will ditch Maye after Year 4 or anything even close to that. I’m just saying there’s a greater sense of urgency to extend now that Maye’s monetary needs have increased. New England is most likely to extend him after Year 3, especially if he has another excellent year.
Christian Gonzalez is the only other Patriot to make the Pro Bowl
Gonzalez has firmly established himself among the NFL’s top corners, yet it’s a little surprising to see him make this list considering he has zero interceptions on the year. It’s not like he hasn’t had his opportunities, either, as he’s targeted at the sixth-highest rate among the 54 cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps on the year.
Maybe it’s making up for the fact that he was named first-team All-Pro, but didn’t get a Pro Bowl nod in previous seasons. Either way, Gonzalez is now in the same boat as Maye when it comes to a raise.
The increase at cornerback for 2023 draft picks jumps from $11.72 million to $17.543 million, which is a sizable amount itself. He won’t get a chance to get it up to franchise tag-level, however, as this is Gonzo’s third year in the NFL.
