Colin Cowherd is back with his annual NFL quarterback rankings, and this year's list has a big surprise for New England Patriots fans. On the latest episode of "The Herd," the veteran sports commentator unveiled his top 10 signal-callers heading into the 2026 season—and Patriots rising star Drake Maye cracked the elite list.

Maye landed at No. 8, sandwiched between two-time MVP Lamar Jackson (No. 7) and veteran Jared Goff (No. 9). It's a bold vote of confidence for a player who's only two years into his NFL career, but Cowherd's reasoning is hard to argue with.

"Bad O-line, hit and miss run game, and he still got to a Super Bowl," Cowherd said of Maye. "Now he's finally gonna get A.J. Brown, a true No. 1 receiver. I think you'll see just how special he is."

The numbers back up the hype. At just 23 years old, Maye led the NFL in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating—all while playing behind a shaky offensive line. He finished runner-up to Matthew Stafford in the MVP race and engineered a historic Patriots turnaround that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance.

Here's a look at Cowherd's full top 10:

1. Josh Allen
2. Patrick Mahomes
3-7. (Not disclosed in segment)
8. Drake Maye
9. Jared Goff
10. (Not disclosed)

What makes Maye's rise so remarkable is the context. He's done it without elite weapons or a sturdy offensive line—the kind of supporting cast that typically helps young quarterbacks thrive. If the Patriots continue to build around him with additions like A.J. Brown, Maye's trajectory points straight toward MVP honors and potentially more Super Bowl runs.

For Patriots fans still buzzing from last season's Cinderella story, Cowherd's ranking is just more evidence that the franchise has found its franchise cornerstone. The question isn't whether Maye is elite—it's how high he can climb.