Despite putting together another forgettable season, the Patriots have one major silver lining that can't be ignored; the rise of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. There were high hopes for him upon the team initially drafting him, but a lot of that went out the window when the offense wasn't performing well before the season even began.
Then there was the decision to keep Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback, which also dampened the hopes for Maye's immediate future. But once he replaced the veteran in Week 6, his stock has skyrocketed and there is optimism surrounding the Patriots for the first time in many years.
His performance has impressed fans and analysts, even though he has only led the team to one win in the weeks since being under center. While that's certainly disappointing, the efforts he's put in during that time make up for the frustration over losses, especially when watching how he extended their game on Sunday against the Titans to force overtime.
It appears Maye contains the clutch gene that can't be taught in the NFL. He put the team on his back once again and they rallied behind him to extend the game. The end result might not have been ideal, as Maye threw a game-sealing interception in overtime, but his determination and focus cannot be ignored and it's brought a much-needed boost to the team all around.
That was felt again as his teammates spoke to reporters after the loss on Sunday. Many raved about how good he is and will be, with nose tackle Davon Godchaux even dubbing him "Josh Allen 2.0"
That is major praise from a seasoned and respected veteran in the league, especially so early in his career, but Jerod Mayo wasn't so sure about handing out that kind of praise just yet.
Jerod Mayo shuts down new nickname for Drake Maye and gives him his own
Among the heaps of praise Maye received from several teammates after the loss in Week 9, the highest of all might have been from Godchaux, as he declared the rookie comparable to one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Maye is not new to being compared to Bills quarterback Josh Allen, a name he was often associated with in the lead-up to this year's draft. A few draft experts saw traits of Allen's technique in Maye, especially since they are both bigger and mobile quarterbacks. Now that the rookie has displayed the clutch factor to put his team in a winning position, the comparison makes even more sense.
But that doesn't necessarily fit for Mayo, who shared what nickname he would give Maye right now.
Mayo is asked about Davon Godchaux calling Drake Maye “Josh Allen 2.0.”
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) November 4, 2024
Mayo: “I call him Drake Maye 1.0. I don’t want to get into comparisons.”
Mayo says they’re at the “beginning stages” of Maye’s development, and he’s a young quarterback that “we’re all excited about.” https://t.co/nr1vzux2np
It might not be the most catchy of nicknames, but it does make a lot of sense why Mayo might want to slow the roll of those suggesting he's comparable to not only their direct competition but also one of the best in the league.
To be fair, it's a smart move because you don't want to set the bar too high or jump to conclusions about any player too early in their career. Otherwise, you might be setting them and yourself up for failure and/or disappointment. It's often not fair to hold young players to such a high standard because if they don't live up to that expectation at all times, that's when negativity starts coming in, warranted or not.
Regardless, it's very telling to hear such high praise of Maye so early in his career, and it adds a new level of excitement to his development and the future of the Patriots with him on the team.