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Hall of Fame QB discussed the ‘next step’ for Drake Maye’s development
"There's room to grow, and there's more out there for him that will make the game easier on him."
Drake Maye analysis: Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been one of the storylines of the NFL through seven weeks, as the 23-year-old has guided New England to a 5-2 record while playing an effective and efficient brand of football.
Maye is first in the NFL with a 75.2-percent completion rate, and has thrown 12 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Having analyzed the Patriots QB, former quarterback Kurt Warner had high praise during a recent interview on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
“We’re seeing something pretty special here early on in year two,” said Warner. “And I really liked what I saw from him last year, but he’s made that jump.”
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Warner covered Maye in a recent episode of YouTube show “QB Confidential,” asserting that the Patriots’ signal-caller is playing the best out of all of the quarterbacks from the 2024 draft.
“This guy just continues to elevate,” Warner added.
Interestingly, the Hall of Famer (now an NFL analyst) thinks that despite Maye setting a regular season Patriots record for completion percentage in the recent win over the Titans — Maye completed 21 of 23 passes — he can actually improve in that respect.
“He left a whole bunch of stuff out there,” Warner claimed. “There were a lot of easy, first throws that he didn’t take. He took off running and did some of those creative things.”
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“That, to me, is the next step for Drake Maye is to take the layups,” Warner explained, “more like his predecessor in Tom Brady, who was so good at, ‘Hey, if they’re going to give me five yards, I’m going to take it, take it every time.'”
Maye rushed eight times for 62 yards in the victory at Tennessee, though he also exited the game briefly after his head bounced off the turf following a tackle.
“There are a lot of those that he doesn’t have to take,” Warner said of Maye getting hit. “The offense is working for him. It’s right in front of him.”
Still, Warner reserved most of what he had to say for praise of Maye.
“Probably the best deep ball thrower in the league right now,” the former Rams QB said.
“It’s like a hand-off when he’s throwing it down the field,” Warner added. “He’s got great touch to it, great pace on [the throws].”
Looking at the long view, Warner thinks Maye has only scratched the surfrace of his potential.
“There’s room to grow, and there’s more out there for him that will make the game easier on him.”
Trivia: Kurt Warner was originally invited to try out for the Packers at training camp in 1994. He did not make the team, though that was mostly due to the wildly talented depth chart of quarterbacks Green Bay fielded at the time. The starter was (obviously) Brett Favre. Former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer was also on the roster. Can you name the backup QB?
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(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He left the Packers after that season and went on to become the (still) all-time passing leader for the Jaguars.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics opened the season on Wednesday night with a 117-116 loss to the 76ers. Boston is back on the court tomorrow to play the Knicks in New York at 7:30 p.m.
Tonight, the Bruins host the Ducks at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, the Patriots play the Browns at Gillette Stadium. The game kicks off at 1 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Celtics show flashes, but 76ers claim season opener behind historic rookie performance: 8 takeaways
- Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups arrested in federal gambling probe, sources say
- Kristaps Porzingis reveals what illness derailed his final season with the Celtics
- Celtics ready to embrace the growing pains that will come this season
- Nearly a year after ACL injury, Stefon Diggs is looking like a star receiver once again
- Amid strong rookie year, Will Campbell has little to say to doubters
- Wyc Grousbeck says Jayson Tatum not expected to play this season
- How well do you know the Boston Celtics? Take our history quiz.
- ESPN analyst discussed the ‘most impressive’ thing about Drake Maye’s growth in 2025 season
Celtics highlights: Boston dropped its opener, but showed flashes of its potential for the 2025-26 season.
On this day: In 2004, the Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 11-9 in a back-and-forth Game 1 of the World Series. The difference came from a two-run home run off the Pesky Pole from Boston second baseman Mark Bellhorn.
Daily highlight: Here’s a magnificent goal from Portland Hearts of Pine’s Nathan Messer in the 6-1 win over Spokane Velocity on Tuesday.
Trivia answer: Mark Brunell
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