New England Patriots
“Drake Maye’s playing quarterback just about as good as anybody, with the least amount of help around him when it comes to just talent.”
After the Patriots defeated the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, 32-13, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte didn’t mince words when asked about the MVP candidacy of his quarterback, Drake Maye.
“I was joking with him last week about MVP, too,” Boutte said after the win. “He doesn’t like to hear it. But, man, I think it’s the truth. … “I mean, y’all see what I see. “We all see. If you look around the league at the other guys, too. I mean, they’re doing great stuff, too.
“But I mean, I think Drake’s doing everything they’re doing. [There’s] not [anything] that he’s not doing. I think at the end of the day, we’re just playing football. We’re having fun with it, too. Just supporting my guys.”
While it should come as little surprise that Maye has plenty of support in New England’s locker room, the second-year QB is starting to get more love across the NFL and media circles when it comes to his MVP case.
Speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Thursday, former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky pushed back against the notion that Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is the current MVP frontrunner — stressing that Maye has played the most pivotal role in his team’s unexpected success so far this season.
“Jonathan’s having an outstanding season,” Orlovsky said. “There’s nothing I can say in a negative fashion about him. The MVP of the NFL right now is Drake Maye.”
Even though Taylor has scored 14 touchdowns in just eight games for the 7-1 Colts, Orlovsky believes that Maye is the leader in the clubhouse right now — given the “value that [he is] providing given what’s around” him.
“One, [Stefon Diggs] is coming off an ACL [tear]. Two, Kayshon Boutte’s their No. 2 receiver. He wasn’t this highly drafted wide receiver. [Maye has] got two tight ends who are certainly longer in their careers than they are younger.
“Drake Maye’s playing quarterback just about as good as anybody, with the least amount of help around him when it comes to just talent. That’s not a knock on those guys, just keeping it real.”
Maye has been a playmaking force so far for the 6-2 Patriots this season. After Sunday’s win over Cleveland, Maye is completing 75.2 percent of his passes for 2,026 yards to go along with 15 touchdown passes and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 251 yards off 51 carries to go along with two additional touchdowns.
In the latest NFL MVP odds on DraftKings, Maye has the third-best odds (+500) to take home the award, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (+125) and Josh Allen (+350).
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