Drake Maye wasn’t quite good enough to beat the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but the New England Patriots rookie still left a strong impression on his opponent.
Maye (206 passing yards, 95 rushing yards) accounted for 301 of New England’s 316 total yards in Sunday’s 20-17 overtime loss. The first-year signal-caller made multiple rookie mistakes, including committing three turnovers, but Maye once again showcased franchise QB potential in a losing effort.
Players from both teams gave Maye his flowers after the entertaining Week 9 thriller.
Titans Star Praises Drake Maye After Beating Patriots
Maye’s top highlight occurred at the end of the fourth quarter when he scrambled 11.82 seconds before finding Rhamondre Stevenson as time expired. It was an outrageous play, one that apparently left Maye and the offense too gassed to go for two points.
Take a look:
DRAKE MAYE MAGICCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/UvIB3dRi8k
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 3, 2024
During locker room availability, Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons revealed he sought out Maye to deliver a postgame message.
“He’s going to be a hell of a player,” Simmons said, via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
That’s high praise coming from one of the NFL‘s best defensive players. Simmons, who finished with one sack and numerous QB pressures, was so good on Sunday that he forced the Patriots to bench rookie right guard Layden Robinson.
However, Simmons’ review of Maye pales in comparison to what Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux said about the No. 3 overall pick.
Patriots Players Gush Over Maye, Compare Rookie to Josh Allen
After the game, Godchaux compared Maye to one of the NFL’s best players.
“Man, that’s young Josh Allen 2.0,” Godchaux told reporters afterward, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
Godchaux then doubled down on the Maye-Allen comparison. In fact, the veteran nose tackle believes Maye looks better than Allen did as a rookie — which isn’t a bold statement, as Allen was terrible his first season.
“He looks amazing,” Godchaux said. “Sure, he had some plays that I’ll let Drake speak to that he’d like to have back, but man, I love watching him on the sideline. I tell the guys all the time he looks like Josh Allen 2.0, and I played Josh Allen in Miami his rookie year, and he didn’t look that good.
“And Josh Allen is a phenomenal player. He’s an MVP-type player, Madden cover, he deserves everything. He’s a great player, but he didn’t look like that his rookie year. Drake looks better than Josh his rookie year. I’ll let Drake speak more on that, but man … he looks amazing, especially when he runs the ball. I didn’t know the kid had burners like that. I’m excited to play with him and watch him the next couple years.”
Drake takes it for a first down 🏃♂️@DrakeMaye2 | #NEPats
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/VSUwohhSga
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 3, 2024
Godchaux believes Maye could help the Patriots once again become a destination for free agents.
“Everybody wants to [play with] Josh Allen, everybody wants to play with Pat Mahomes,” Godchaux said. “Soon, before you know it, people will want to play with Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams.
” … That kid can play. He shows a lot of heart. I’m screaming on the sidelines, ‘Man, get down,’ but he keeps taking hits.”
Here’s what other Patriots said about Maye after Sunday’s loss:
Christian Gonzalez: “That’s Drake. Nobody was surprised, honestly. Drake does stuff like that all the time. He fought and did all he could. I’m proud of him, happy for him.”
Kendrick Bourne: “Drake is just phenomenal. He keeps showing it week in, week out, and I’m just proud of him. We’ve got to keep being behind him — help blocking for him, catching the ball, running good routes — so that we can get the full potential out of him.
“But when you’ve got somebody like that, it encourages you to go harder, and that’s what we want as a unit: for everybody to give their best foot because clearly he is. … He has the aura to him. You just know he’s going to go out there and do his thing.”
Hunter Henry: “The guy’s special, man. Just the way he competes, the way he plays, the way he continues to fight. I’m excited to continue to go out there and play with him. He’s very special, got a lot of talent.”
Jerod Mayo: “[I saw] mental toughness and the ability to make plays with his legs, which he has shown before. He gave us a chance to win the game.”
Time will tell whether Maye becomes half the player that Allen is. But he has the size, athleticism, and raw arm strength to become one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.
Will the Patriots support him with adequate coaches and offensive personnel? That remains a big question.
What PFN’s Metrics Say About Maye’s First Few Starts
For as impressive as Maye was in his first four starts, he also displayed the same poor footwork, occasional inaccuracy, and risky decision-making that made him a polarizing prospect. The good has outweighed the bad, but he has a lot to clean up.
Maye’s penchant for turnovers (six on the season) has led to relatively underwhelming Pro Football Network QB+ metric grades.
At the time of this writing, Maye’s Week 7 (B-) ranked as the 82nd-best single-game PFN QB+ grade. His Week 6 (C+) ranked 155th, and his Week 9 (C-) ranked 211th. Maye’s Week 8 start against the New York Jets didn’t qualify, as he was removed from the game in the second quarter after suffering a concussion. For the season, Maye currently ranks 22nd among all quarterbacks with a C- (48.5).
As for box-score stats, Maye posted a 65.6% completion percentage, 770 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions, two fumbles, 13 sacks, 209 rushing yards, and one rushing TD in his first five games, including his Week 3 cameo and injury-shortened Week 8 start.
Those are solid numbers for a 22-year-old rookie. In fact, according to X account @Bostonsportsinf, Maye is the first quarterback in NFL history in their first four starts to post at least 700 passing yards, six passing TDs, 200 rushing yards, one rushing TD, and a 60.0 completion percentage.
Drake Maye
Is the first QB, in their first 4 career starts, with…
Passing yards ≥ 700
Cmp% ≥ 60.0%
Passing TD’s ≥ 6
Rushing yards ≥ 200
Rushing TD ≥ 1So there’s that pic.twitter.com/W5HtwX7BgI
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) November 3, 2024
Of course, it’s not just about the numbers. There’s also the eye test, which shows Maye is an elite talent with the poise, moxie, and work ethic to smooth out his flaws over time.
Maye and the Patriots will look to get back in the win column when they visit the Chicago Bears next Sunday. If Maye outperforms fellow rookie QB Caleb Williams, the hype train might go off the rails.