Patriots’ Drake Maye Earns Comparison To Hall Of Fame Quarterback Before Texans Game

Drake Maye has exceeded expectations this season and is a legitimate MVP candidate. Joe Buck compared the New England Patriots quarterback to one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

During an appearance on NBC Sports Boston’s “Next Pats Podcast,” play-by-play announcer Joe Buck compared Maye to Peyton Manning. The two do not have similar play styles, but Buck noted that Maye’s demeanor at his age reminds Buck of Manning.

“He’s 23 years old and just phenomenal,” Buck said on Friday. “When he was on our production call, he hung up, and I was like, ‘Something about him reminds me of Manning. I don’t know what it is, maybe the Southern accent?’ Just his demeanor, to be a 23-year-old, just kind of blew me away.”

Maye has made the Pro Bowl in both of his seasons as a starter, but what he has done this season has been special. He led the league in completion percentage in the regular season. He threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also has 450 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He was key in the Patriots going 14-3 and claiming the No. 2 seed.

Maye’s age-23 season is comparable to Manning’s age-23 season as well. Manning’s second season was also his age-23 season, and he threw for 4,135 yards and 26 touchdowns. Manning’s age-23 season came in 1999, so it is hard to compare across eras. Manning also did not run the football like Maye.

However, Manning’s second season was his breakout season, just like Maye’s. Manning obviously went on to have a historic career. He was a 14-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl Champion and five-time MVP.

Maye has a long way to go to catch “The Sheriff,” but Buck thinks he has the intangibles to be a great player.