You’ve probably noticed New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye‘s big glow up during the 2025 season. The third-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has been sensational this season for the first-place Patriots, who are back to dreaming big and looking dethrone the Buffalo Bills atop the AFC East for the first time since 2019.

The future is getting exceedingly bright for more second-year talents in the AFC East than just Maye, though. This division is home to three of the most impressive breakout second-year players in all of football from the 2024 Draft. The emergence of each could have major ramifications for each team for years to come.

Drake Maye leads the way for the AFC East’s top second-year breakouts from 2024 NFL Draft

New England Patriots QB Drake Maye — drafted third overall in 2024 NFL Draft

In just about any and every notable statistical measure, Drake Maye is having a sensational season. Never mind the 72% completion rate or the league-leading 2,836 yards. Forget about his 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Maye has the Patriots streaking in the win column and is doing so by serving as the engine of the offense. It’s been impressive to watch and leaves the young quarterback firmly in the MVP conversation as we brace for Thanksgiving. There’s a lot of football left this season — with Maye having a chance to further bolster his argument for major awards if he’s able to push this Patriots team across the finish line at his current pace.

Maye was fine as a rookie but the year two leap deserves all the flowers because of just how good he’s playing under Josh McDaniels.

Miami Dolphins LT Patrick Paul — drafted 55th overall in 2024 NFL Draft

Of all the veteran personnel transitions the Dolphins have undertaken this season, switch from multi-Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead to 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul was the one who scared people the most. As it turns out, Paul is more than ready to assume the mantle of a franchise left tackle. He’s been sensational in Miami. He’s been credited with just 12 pressures in 11 games thus far this season, three less pressures than he conceded as a rookie on just 229 snaps in pass protection.

Offensive tackles this season who have played at least 300 snaps on the season credited with less pressures at this point in the season than Paul’s 12: Lane Johnson, Joe Alt, Darnell Wright, Andrew Thomas, Brian O’Neill, Penei Sewell.

End of list. Not bad company to keep at all.

Buffalo Bills SAF Cole Bishop — drafted 60th overall in 2024 NFL Draft

Bishop was a modest rookie performer for Buffalo in 2024, posting just short of 500 defensive snaps amid the transition away from older players like Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde for the Bills during his rookie season. The usual suspects from Bishop’s college tape showed up during his rookie season, too — most notably a troublesome 20% missed tackle rate.

Fast forward to today and Bishop, Buffalo’s second-round pick in 2024 has been playing good football for the past two months and sensational football over the last three weeks. He’s posted six of his seven passes defensed on the season over this current three-week stretch while thriving alongside Poyer, who the team brought back this season on the practice squad and has been inserted into the lineup as the one pulling the strings on the back end.

The extra support has led to a lot of confidence in his play, manifesting in the form of more alignment versatility and trust in his range. Bishop has cut his missed tackle rate by nearly 50% this season, too.

Miami Dolphins News

The Dolphins have plenty of incentive to keep phasing a familiar face into a bigger role as the rest of the 2025 season unfolds

The latest chance for Miami to play the game within the game.

Kyle Crabbs

Buffalo Bills News

Buffalo Bills Playoff Picture: Bills’ difficult road ahead will define whether the team is truly a contender

The Bills have plenty of work to do for the remainder of the NFL season.

Adam Zientek