Sean McVay knows a star in the making when he sees one — and New England Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye just left a lasting impression. After the Los Angeles Rams barely squeezed past the Pats, McVay couldn’t stop praising Maye’s poise and talent.
The rookie snagged 282 yards, two TDs, and a ton of swagger. While the Rams walked away with the W, Maye walked away with McVay’s respect — and a solid buzz around his name.
McVay Calls Maye a “Stud” After Strong Show vs. Rams
Well, well, well — looks like the Rams’ defense got a taste of what Patriots fans are hyped about for years to come. HC McVay didn’t hold back after Pats star QB Maye torched the Rams for 282 yards and two touchdowns in New England’s 27-20 loss. “He looks like a stud,” McVay said, no hesitation. And he’s right — Maye’s poise in the pocket and ability to fit the ball into tight windows gave LA fits all day.
“I didn’t do too much work on him coming out,” McVay admitted, “but I know a lot of people who studied him really hard, that are truly respected…” Safe to say, they weren’t wrong. Maye showed the football world that he’s got some serious tools. He wasn’t afraid to take what the defense gave him, working those check-downs and extending drives.
Rams head coach Sean McVay had plenty of praise for Patriots QB Drake Maye: “He looks like a stud.” pic.twitter.com/NFxhhDWPMH
— Sean T. McGuire (@BySeanMcGuire) November 17, 2024
McVay wasn’t the only one impressed. “You can see just the impact that he has on his teammates, the way people talk about him here. He’s going to be a special player for a long time,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Christian Gonzalez didn’t get ignored either. McVay gave a nod to the second-year corner’s solid play, despite Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp mostly dodging his coverage.
Maye might be playing for a losing squad right now, but after this kind of performance, his future is looking bright. McVay’s not the only one noticing.
Maye’s Mistake vs. Bears Won’t Define His Bright Future
Maye’s finding his rhythm, but even the best have their off moments. In the Patriots’ 19-3 win over the Bears, the rookie made a costly mistake, trying to force a pass to TE Austin Hooper.
A pump fake led to a turnover when the ball found Bears LB T.J. Edwards instead. Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt didn’t hold back, calling out Maye’s short-armed throw, joking it would “haunt him for the rest of the season.” Van Pelt’s quip? “Just throw it away over the head of the tight end — aim for the tuba player in Row 4.”
Despite the blunder, Maye has energized New England’s offense. Since taking over for Jacoby Brissett, he’s helped the team average over seven more points and 40 extra yards per game. The future’s looking bright for the rookie.