NFL legend praises New England Patriots QB Drake Maye and his ‘love of football’
The New England Patriots are already onto 2025 as far as improving the roster, but there’s excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the player they selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. In fact, Drake Maye has one former NFL quarterback marveling over what he has already shown in a limited amount of time.
In entering the league with a talented arm and underrated as far as his athleticism, Maye has showcased all those abilities. Along with his prototypical size as a QB, his dual-threat ability has been highlighted in his ability to escape the pocket and make big plays. He also showcases an ability to keep plays alive like he did in the team’s 20-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans in which he threw for a game-tying touchdown.
But what makes Maye dangerous is his ability to deliver with his arm. Now, it was his arm and decision making that led to a game-ending interceptions, but such is a lesson for a young quarterback says Boomer Esiason who loves what he sees from Maye.
During an appearance on WEE’s The Greg Hill Show on Monday, the former NFL quarterback acknowledged the mistakes but gushed over the North Carolina product.
“I’m telling you Greg, he has all the making of somebody’s that’s gonn be really good, Esiason said.
Drake Maye is the Patriots offense…right now
After sitting out the first handful of games at the start of the season, Maye has taken over as the Patriots signal caller and at least has the 30th ranked offense in the NFL looking decent. He’s doing it with his ability to get the ball down the field and with his legs as he was the leading rusher for the Patriots vs the Titans.
While praising the young quarterback, Esiason warned about Maye relying on his athleticism. That’s where the rest of the Patriots’ offense will need to step up because too much of him relying on his legs could be what halts his growth as an NFL QB. Furthermore, it could lead to injuries.
In fact, that is the biggest fear for most Patriots fans when it comes to Maye playing behind an offensive line with no stability. Moving forward, he will have to pick his spots with his runs rather than relying on his running to keep drives alive. That is what will eventually get him injured like the concussion he already suffered.
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So, something to watch in Week 10 when the Patriots take on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and the Chicago Bears will how he finds other ways to help his offense. If he does that, he will complete the trifecta at the top of the draft, but there is one thing Esiason says sets him apart.
“Caleb Williams was supposedly a can't miss player, Jayden Daniels was a can't miss player. But there was something about Drake Maye that really did set him apart, and that was his love of football and the way that he played it,” Esiason said.
Eventually, that love of football and lifting the players around him will lead to some wins.