No. 3 pick Drake Maye signs rookie contract with Patriots

The No. 3 overall pick is officially under contract.

The New England Patriots agreed to terms with quarterback Drake Maye on Tuesday, as first reported by Mike Garafolo of NFL Media and later announced by the organization.

Fully guaranteed, the four-year, $36.641 million rookie deal carries a prorated signing bonus of $23.468 million, per the accounting of PatsCap’s Miguel Benzan. It begins with a base salary of $795,000 as well as a cap number of $6.662 million.

And as an arrival in the 2024 NFL draft’s first round, the fifth-year option stands ahead for the North Carolina product.

Maye, 21, started 26 games during his Tar Heels career after redshirting as an early enrollee behind incumbent Sam Howell. He went on to complete 64.9 percent of his passes for 8,018 yards, 63 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Added on the ground were 1,209 yards and 16 scores across 302 carries.

Twice a team captain while in Chapel Hill, Maye earned first-team All-ACC, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and FWAA Freshman All-American recognition in 2022. As a redshirt sophomore last fall, he gathered second-team All-ACC honors and finished ranked third in the FBS in total offense per game.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Maye marks the fifth selection signing for New England. The club reached agreement with wide receiver Javon Baker last week. Prior to then, cornerback Marcellas Dial, quarterback Joe Milton III and tight end Jaheim Bell got under contract at the start of rookie minicamp.

Three members of the 2024 Patriots draft class remain unsigned as organized team activities continue in Foxborough.

That looming group includes wideout Ja’Lynn Polk, offensive tackle Caedan Wallace and guard Layden Robinson. Their names respectively went off the board in April’s second, third and fourth rounds.