NASHVILLE – Davon Godchaux found himself screaming throughout Sunday’s game.
It was usually from the sideline when the Patriots veteran watched Drake Maye. As Sunday’s matchup went on, Godchaux was amazed by the team’s rookie quarterback.
That’s why Godchaux was so encouraged after the Patriots 20-17 overtime loss in Tennessee. After watching Maye start his fourth NFL game, this defensive tackle believes the Patriots found a special player, who reminds him of one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
“Man, that looked like Josh Allen 2.0,” Godchaux said. “He looked amazing – especially when he runs the ball. I didn’t even know the kid had burners like that. When he’s running the ball, he looks amazing. I’m excited to play with him and watch him the next couple of years.”
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The Patriots would be thrilled if Maye developed like Allen. The Buffalo Bills quarterback is a 2-time Pro Bowler with an All-Pro on his resume. He also tied an NFL record last year with the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season with 15.
Maye ran the ball eight times for 95 yards on Sunday. Those 95 yards are the third most gained on the ground by a Patriots quarterback in team history. It’s the most rushing yards by a Patriots quarterback in 48 years.
Maye finished the game trailing only Steve Grogan (103 yards in 1976) and Babe Parilli (96 yards in 1964). He also completed 29-of-41 passes for 206 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
The No. 3 overall pick had an especially magic moment when he extended the final play in regular by nearly 12 seconds before hitting Rhamondre Stevenson for a game-tying touchdown.
Godchaux said he was losing his mind on the sideline during this play and believes other NFL players will want to come to New England to play with Maye.
“Absolutely. Everybody wants to play with Josh Allen. Everybody wants to play with Pat Mahomes,” Godchaux said. “Before you know it, people are going to want to play with Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams – he’s already got pretty good receivers in Chicago. That kid can play. That kid shows a lot of heart. I’m screaming on the sideline saying, ‘Get down,’ but he keeps taking hits. He’s going to be a great player in this league.”
At 22 years old, Maye is the youngest player on the Patriots roster. Godchaux said that the rookie made him nervous several times on Sunday – especially after he suffered a concussion the previous week against the New York Jets.
“He’s a competitor, man. We don’t give excuses for his age. Every game he’s getting better,” Godchaux said. “I was disappointed when he got hurt in the Jets game. I wanted to see him finish that game because I knew he would’ve had a big game. He just keeps getting better and better.
“He’s a playmaker already as a rookie. I love seeing him run the ball, but (he should) get down because we can’t have our franchise quarterback get hurt. Man, he’s a gamer. It’s like playing a video game. And that play he had with Rhamondre, I thought he had room to run and get a touchdown. I’m like, ‘run!’ Then he throws the touchdown to Rhamondre.”
