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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford are both MVP finalists, but only one can win the award. Stafford seems to have the edge for the official NFL MVP Award. He was named the First-Team All-Pro quarterback by the Associated Press, making it very likely that he will win the award. However, the race is not so cut and dry. ESPN’s Seth Walder ranked 100 players for his “real” MVP Award, taking into account more than just traditional factors. “To evaluate players, I rely on a variety of sources — statistics and quantitative metrics, awards such as the All-Pro team, and feedback from NFL front office personnel and colleagues at ESPN,” wrote Walder on Thursday. “One of my favorite parts about football is that player evaluation is far from a settled science. Every season, including this one, someone I trust in the league will tell me I have a player ranked far too high and another person who I have similar trust in will tell me that same player is ranked far too low. “In this exercise, we are measuring player value relative to average at respective positions. So we will almost certainly have quarterbacks at the very top — it is the highest leverage position — but also cannot have more than 16 on the list.” Maye topped Walder’s rankings, with Stafford in third place. Dak Prescott was No. 2 on the rankings. Walder noted that Stafford’s accuracy numbers did not stack up to Maye and Prescott’s, hence his third-place finish in the rankings. “Maye might not be the NFL MVP when it is announced Feb. 5 … but he should be,” wrote Walder. “And while it was a close race throughout the season, I don’t think it was really that close at the end. Maye finished as the NFL’s QBR leader by a healthy margin, with his 77.2 being well ahead of the next-highest finisher (Jordan Love at 72.9). And because QBR already adjusts for opponent quality, Maye’s big lead takes into account the Patriots’ easy strength of schedule. “How did Maye pull it off? Mainly with accuracy and a big helping of explosive plays. Maye led QBR-qualifying quarterbacks in yards per dropback (7.7), adjusted completion percentage (78.8%) and completion percentage over expectation (plus-9%). That last number represents the best CPOE season by any quarterback in the NFL Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). Maye recorded 54 plays that generated at least two expected points added, tied for the second most in the NFL. And his 8.7 air yards per attempt was third highest, and he threw to the sticks or farther on 47% of his attempts (fourth highest).” Walder went on to note that Maye achieved all he did this season in a tougher situation than Stafford. Stafford is throwing the ball to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams with Kyren Williams in the backfield. The Patriots’ weapons are great, but they do not stack up to the two All-Pro wide receivers and Pro Bowl running back the Rams have. Walder’s rankings will most likely not align with how the MVP race actually shakes out. All indications are that voters will name Stafford the NFL MVP, and Maye will be the runner-up. However, the two could face off in the Super Bowl, and both would much rather win that than the award anyway. More Patriots: Cam Newton Calls Patriots’ Super Bowl Path ‘Joke,’ But His Was Easier

New England Patriots players believe Drake Maye can lead them to glory. The 23-year-old quarterback has taken massive strides as an MVP finalist in his second season. Maye can steer New England back to the Super Bowl with an AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos this Sunday. Some teammates feel Maye is ready for the moment. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe shared comments from DeMario “Pop” Douglas lauding Maye’s demeanor at the end of last Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round victory. “Pop Douglas, the receiver, told me Drake Maye was cool, calm, unrattled,” Wolfe said. “And they really got an unshakeable energy on the last drive this past week through their quarterback. And he said, ‘That’s the biggest jump he’s made in Year 2. He was trying in Year 1, but he wasn’t quite knowing how to lead every guy in the locker room.'” Douglas noted that Maye caters his communication approach to each player to get the most out of everyone. “‘He treats every guy in a different frequency. He won’t yell at Stefon Diggs the way he yells at me, but that’s my preferred style. I want you to get on me,'” Wolfe recalled Douglas saying. Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel, Other Patriots Among NFL Awards Finalists by Keagan Stiefel 2 Min Read Patriots’ Drake Maye On What He Must Do To Protect Ball Against Broncos by Daniel Fisher 2 Min Read Patriots’ QB Drake Maye Reveals Challenges Of Using Silent Count Against Broncos by Cole Shelton 3 Min Read Milton Williams won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. The defensive tackle watched Jalen Hurts take home the Big Game’s MVP award, and he expressed confidence in Maye’s ability to do the same. “‘Drake is hungry. I definitely think he has what it takes to be a Super Bowl MVP-type quarterback,'” Wolfe recalled Williams saying. “So, they think they have an advantage at quarterback here. A guy that’s ready to lead them into the moment.” The AFC Championship Game starts Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS. More NFL: Colin Cowherd Ranks Patriots’ Drake Maye As No. 3 Player In AFC Championship Game

Now that we’re eight-plus weeks into the MLB offseason, a lot of free agency action has come and gone. The most recent move was Cody Bellinger re-signing with the New York Yankees. If you’re wondering who the best remaining free agents are, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand got you covered. On Wednesday, Feinsand listed who he feels are the top six remaining free agents, with former Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito factoring into the list, alongside Framber Valdez, Eugenio Suarez, Luis Arraez, Zac Gallen, and Chris Bassitt. With Bellinger headed back to the Yankees, the top remaining free agents are LHP Framber Valdez, 3B Eugenio Suarez, INF Luis Arráez, RHP Zac Gallen, RHP Chris Bassitt and RHP Lucas Giolito.— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 21, 2026 Giolito’s 2025 season with the Red Sox marked a strong return after missing 2024 due to elbow surgery. The right-hander posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts, logging 145 innings while striking out 121 batters and maintaining a 1.29 WHIP. Despite elbow soreness cutting his year short in late September, he was cleared of major damage. Over his nine-year MLB career, Giolito has compiled a 71-66 record with a 4.30 ERA across 206 games (204 starts), amassing 1,198 strikeouts in 1,158 2/3 innings. Drafted No. 16 overall by the Washington Nationals in 2012, he debuted in 2016 before thriving with the Chicago White Sox, earning an All-Star nod in 2019 and tossing a no-hitter in 2020. Stints with the Angels and Guardians in 2023 preceded his Red Sox tenure. More MLB: Jon Heyman Ties Red Sox To Three Different Infield Trade Targets

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel sent a clear message to Milton Williams ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. The Patriots went out and signed Williams to a four-year, $104 million contract this offseason, after he spent four years with the Philadelphia Eagles, including winning the Super Bowl last season. Williams has been a key part of the Patriots’ defensive line, and Vrabel is glad the team signed him in free agency. Yet, Vrabel knows Williams needs to have a great game on Sunday for New England to advance to the Super Bowl. “We knew we needed to supplement the roster and targeted some guys, got some guys, didn’t get some guys,” Vrabel said on Wednesday. “We decided to add Milt. The person, quality person. I think the play speaks for itself. We have high expectations for everybody, but certainly Milt. It’s good to have him back out there. It’s helped in a lot of phases, a lot of areas. In the run game, he had some really nice plays last week, affecting the quarterback. “We talked about on the interception return, his push kind of started it, knocking the guy back into the tight end. So, we’ll need everybody, including Milt. We’ll need their best efforts this week. Again, that’s kind of where it went last year. You target guys, and some guys you get, some guys you don’t.” Williams had just one tackle against the Houston Texans, but he did help limit Houston’s run game. So, Vrabel expects Williams to continue the success he’s had this season to help the Patriots advance to the Super Bowl. Kick-off for New England’s AFC Championship Game against Denver is set for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. More Patriots: Jon Heyman Ties Red Sox To Three Different Infield Trade Targets

The New England Patriots will presumably be taking home some hardware in 2026. Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs, TreVeyon Henderson and Josh McDaniels were all listed among the finalists for the 2025 Associated Press NFL Awards that were revealed on Wednesday. If you can’t put the pieces together, here’s the full list. Patriots’ AP Award FinalistsNFL MVP: Drake MayeOffensive Player of the Year: Drake MayeCoach of the Year: Mike VrabelAssistant Coach of the Year: Josh McDanielsComeback Player of the year: Stefon DiggsOffensive Rookie of the Year: TreVeyon Henderson The finalists for AP Most Valuable Player presented by @Invisalign! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/Kj7bRrkk5q— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026 The finalists for AP Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/LHoxHUddFm— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026 The finalists for AP Comeback Player of the Year! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/zajCTirmHH— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026 The finalists for AP Offensive Player of the Year presented by @Copilot! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/ApQQOThZX1— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026 The finalists for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year presented by @EAMaddenNFL! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/vHXnJXguen— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026 New England was only shut out of two major categories: Defensive Player of the Years and Defensive Rookie of the Year.It’s hard to come up with names that could realistically be considered for those two awards (sorry, Craig Woodson), but all of their finalists not only make sense, but have a case to actually win. FanDuel and Draftkings did not carry odds in the immediate aftermath of the finalists announcement, but at one time, Maye, Vrabel and Henderson were among the two favorites for MVP, COTY and OROY, respectively. The Patriots will hope to hear some of those names called at the NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco — though they will not want to be in attendance as they very well could be preparing for Super Bowl LX. More Patriots: Cam Newton Calls Patriots’ Super Bowl Path ‘Joke,’ But His Was Easier