Drake Maye’s rise from promising rookie to MVP candidate hasn’t gone unnoticed in the Patriots’ locker room, especially by one of his top targets.
FanSided caught up with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte this week, and the second-year wideout didn’t hesitate when asked about his quarterback’s breakout 2025 season.
Boutte spoke to FanSided on behalf of Charmin, playfully insisting that “Charmin loves Boutte and Boutte loves Charmin.” The Patriots receiver has partnered with the brand to promote its largest-ever roll, a 1,700-sheet design built to last up to a month before needing a replacement.
Boutte discussed a range of topics, from what he’s learned under head coach Mike Vrabel to the experience of playing alongside Stefon Diggs, a receiver he grew up watching. But his comments about Maye made it clear how highly the Patriots think of their young quarterback.
"I always did think [Maye] had the potential to be one of the greats. He’s only 23, going into his second year, and he’s literally doing everything — running, throwing deep, making the right reads, understanding defenses, just getting the ball to open guys."Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte believes Drake Maye can be 'one of the greats'
Hamstring injury aside, Boutte has quietly emerged as a reliable weapon for Maye this season, catching 23 passes for 431 yards and five touchdowns in nine games.
His chemistry with Maye has helped round out an offense that’s grown increasingly balanced under Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
As for Maye, the numbers speak for themselves. Through 10 weeks, he’s thrown for 2,555 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, completing over 71% of his passes while averaging nearly nine yards per attempt.
The 23-year-old ranks among the league’s most efficient quarterbacks and has already entered the early MVP conversation. Maye has arguably established himself as a top-10 quarterback in the NFL and as the Patriots sitting at 8-2 atop the AFC East.
Boutte credits Maye’s maturity and adaptability for that rise. “The passing game isn’t always going to be open 100% of the time,” he said. “There are moments where you’ve got to run and get the first down, and he does a tremendous job of that too.”
The Patriots look every bit like contenders again, and Maye is a large reason for that. Boutte agrees with that sentiment. “You’ve got to love a quarterback like that,” he said. “We’ve already doubled our wins from last year, and we’re just getting started.”
If Boutte’s belief proves true, the Patriots may already have their next great quarterback, and one who’s only just beginning to show how high his ceiling really is.