Because the Patriots are in the midst of a rebuild under the guidance of Jerod Mayo and a long list of new staff, the 2024 season wasn't expected to yield much winning. It was universally accepted by analysts and fans in New England, primarily due to the idea of team building for the future.
They began that by selecting quarterback Drake Maye in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and although he has only been the starter since Week 6, he has consistently impressed on and off the field. His impact on the team has been immediate; from the boost in morale and the improvement of the offense, it's clear the rookie has what it takes to be the face of the franchise.
That has been demonstrated even through some tough losses over the past month, including the latest to the Rams on Sunday. Although a late-game interception sealed the loss, Maye's best performance to date was recognized by his opponents, including their head coach.
Sean McVay knows good quarterbacks, as he was a big part of the Rams trading for Matthew Stafford in 2021. The addition of the 16 year veteran led them to a Super Bowl win over the Bengals and has made them a top team in the NFC in the years since.
So when He compliments a quarterback, he's not just gassing them up without genuinely believing what he's saying.
Sean McVay heaps praise on Drake Maye after the Rams sneak out a win in Week 11
Given that this was the first time he had game planned against a Drake Maye-led Patriots team, McVay was asked what he thought about the rookie after the Rams walked out with the win on Sunday.
The head coach couldn't have said anything better about Maye's current performance and what his future will inevitably bring, as his ringing endorsement says a lot about what the Patriots have in their franchise quarterback.
#Rams HC Sean McVay was very complimentary of #Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye:
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) November 17, 2024
“He looks like a stud… You can see the impact that he has on his teammates. The way people talk about him here. He looks like he’s gonna be a special player for a long time and he gave us fits today.” pic.twitter.com/zPyjAwKiKZ
Patriots fans and media members have felt this way for the past few weeks, especially after Maye's impressive 12-second scramble into a touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson to send their game against the Titans into overtime.
He continues to prove he was the best decision the new regime could have made with the third overall pick, and the impact he's already made on his team is easy to see by their opponents.