Maye drew comparisons to the Pro Bowl quarterback.
Drake Maye put the New England Patriots offense on his back on Sunday. In a game where the Patriots finished with 295 total net yards, Maye passed for 206 yards and scrambled for another 95 on the ground.
The dual-threat ability and performance reminded one of his veterans teammates of another AFC East quarterback.
“Man, that’s young Josh Allen 2.0,” defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said Sunday.
While head coach Jerod Mayo was not yet ready to compare his rookie to one of the league’s top quarterbacks, he remains bullish about the 22-year old’s progress.
“I call him Drake Maye 1.0,” Mayo said Monday morning on WEEI. “I don’t want to get into comparisons. Josh Allen is a multi-year Pro Bowl quarterback. We’re here at the beginning stages of a developing quarterback that I think we’re all excited about.”
Entering the NFL Draft, Allen was a common comparable for Maye due to the rookie’s size, arm strength, and mobility. Early on, Godchaux believes Maye has looked better than Allen did in his rookie season even as he works through his own mistakes.
Against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, those rookie moments were expected with Maye having to carry the load. In total, Maye finished the game with three turnovers as he threw two interceptions — including one to end the game — and lost a late fumble on a strip sack.
“He’s trying to make plays out there. And that comes with it,” Mayo said. “I’m not going to try and change the way he plays. I look forward to seeing the way he continues to develop. And in saying that, I’m sure the turnovers and things like that will become less and less — and I’m excited about that.”
The Patriots’ organization as a whole must now do everything in their power to help Maye moving forward. But, the flashes the rookie has shown may make their jobs easier as Maye could attract players to want to play with him in New England.
“Everybody wants to [play with] Josh Allen, everybody wants to play with Pat Mahomes. Soon, before you know it, people will want to play with… Drake Maye,” Godchaux said. “He shows a lot of heart. I’m screaming on the sidelines, ‘Man, get down,’ but he keeps taking hits. He’s going to be a great player in this league.”