As a mobile quarterback with a big arm and plenty of natural ability, Drake Maye drew quite a few comparisons to Josh Allen in the pre-draft process.
Though the Patriots rookie has only made nine NFL starts, it sounds like he already has a fan in Allen. The MVP frontrunner offered some lofty praise for Maye in Orchard Park on Wednesday afternoon, saying he’s already earned his respect despite a limited sample size.
“I think their quarterback is going to be really good for a really long time,” Allen told reporters in Upstate New York. “He’s making some unbelievable plays, extending and from the pocket. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and his game.”
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That respect is certainly mutual, as Maye spoke glowingly about Allen ahead of their first meeting this Sunday in Buffalo.
‘What a special player,” Maye said. “He’s playing at a really high level. It’s been fun to watch some of his highlights in some of the games. They’ve got a lot of prime time games, so anytime Josh is on, I’m a big fan of his, a big fan of his game. I got to meet him a couple times throughout my time just crossing paths, and he’s an awesome dude. He’s a great player, and what he’s done for Buffalo and how they embrace him is pretty cool and pretty admirable.”
As for those comparisons between Allen and the Patriots rookie, Maye was quick downplay them.
“I think I’ve got a long way to go,” Maye said. “What a player he is, playing at an MVP level. I think the biggest thing is just the progression he’s made. I think what he dealt with, whether coming out of college or his first years here, I feel like everybody was just kind of not giving him the credit he deserved. Now, you can see kind of the full fruition of what he’s doing and the level he’s playing at. Just, like I said, fun to watch, and I think I’ve got a long way to go to get to anywhere close to playing at his level.”
