Buffalo Bills set to get first look at what could be a new thorn in their side for years to come
Life after Tom Brady hasn't been kind to the New England Patriots, something that I'm sure Bills fans are all torn up inside about. They've cycled through quarterbacks, their record has been poor, and the general roster construction leaves a lot to be desired.While that's still true, and the 3-11 Patriots are poised to be […]
Life after Tom Brady hasn't been kind to the New England Patriots, something that I'm sure Bills fans are all torn up inside about. They've cycled through quarterbacks, their record has been poor, and the general roster construction leaves a lot to be desired.
While that's still true, and the 3-11 Patriots are poised to be holding yet another top-5 NFL Draft pick next spring, it looks like they may have found their quarterback of the future in 2024 third overall pick Drake Maye.
Sunday provides an opportunity for Bills Mafia to get their first look at Maye, who has the makings of becoming a familiar foe for Josh Allen and the Bills for years to come. Let's get to know the rookie quarterback.
Maye took over as the starting quarterback at North Carolina as a redshirt freshman in the post-Sam Howell era at Chapel Hill, immediately proving to be a versatile, talented, and athletically gifted quarterback. At 6'5" 220 lbs, he's a big quarterback that can extend plays with his legs, has tons of physical grit, and believes he can make the absurd a reality. Sound familiar? It should.
Maye has drawn comparisons to Josh Allen plenty, dating back to college. While that's lofty praise, the upside is certainly there for Maye to become an imposing dual-threat quarterback with a big arm. He can absolutely uncork it down the field and has shown very good touch and ability to drop it into a bucket in his rookie season.
Maye has an adjusted completion percentage of 75.6%, and in 10 games played this season, Maye has run for 359 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Surprisingly, at 35.9 rushing yards per game, he's actually averaging a touch more than Allen is on the season (34.6), although Allen has taken off in recent weeks.
The Patriots' roster isn't set up for success this season, with major needs at wide receiver and offensive line being huge priorities for the organization heading into next year, but by all accounts, it definitely looks like the Patriots have found a real one in Maye. If the Patriots can support him the right way, he has the potential to bring New England back to relevance and inject a new young gun slinger into the AFC East.
Follow along all year for more Buffalo Bills coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, and make sure to follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
