New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye started the year on the bench, but he eventually took over as the team’s starter and showed some flashes of the player he could be in this league.
In his 13 appearances (12 starts) for New England this year, he completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while running for another 421 yards and two scores.
That performance was strong enough to earn him Pro Bowl alternate honors, as he replaced two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in the Pro Bowl Games.
Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning is a big party of the Pro Bowl Games, and earlier this week, he had some incredible things to say about Maye.
“You can tell he’s a natural leader, and then when you watch him throw, which Eli and I get to do down there, Eli and I spend time with the college quarterbacks, his arm just jumps out at you, and then his athletic ability,” Manning said. “Then, the fact that he got to play so much as a rookie. You see Drake, he’s very accountable. When things go well you see him giving credit to his receivers and the linemen. When things don’t go well, you see him starting with himself. They had that great comeback. He threw a potentially game-winning touchdown and didn’t get the two-point conversion. That’s all he talked about was the one that he didn’t get. I like that. I like guys that are honest and aren’t trying to hide from it. He owns it. I think all of those things are going to serve him well. He’s from a competitive family growing up. He’s got a lot of pride. And, I think that’s what New England fans want to have is a quarterback who’s a great competitor that has a lot of pride. I think that will be good for him.”
“That’s what New England fans want to have – a quarterback who’s a great competitor that has a lot of pride.”
Peyton Manning discusses @DrakeMaye2 at this year’s #ProBowlGames pic.twitter.com/D6vb3mJjVC
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 31, 2025
If that’s what an NFL Hall of Famer thinks, Maye must be doing something right. Now, if the Patriots can surround him with more talent, they could be fighting for a playoff spot next year.
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