Falcons coach compares Drake Maye to reigning NFL MVP

“His mobility, his arm strength, the way he can take a game over with both facets of the game. So he's going to be — he's a problem.”

Josh Allen was handed a loss by Drake Maye and the Patriots earlier this month. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

October 29, 2025

2 minutes to read

Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has had no shortage of exposure to elite quarterbacks.

Prior to his post with the Falcons, Ulbrich served as the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator from 2021-2024, ending that tenure as the team’s interim head coach.

During that run with New York, Ulbrich often had his hands full trying to slow down one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks: Buffalo’s Josh Allen.

And now — entering a matchup against Drake Maye and the Patriots on Sunday — Ulbright sees plenty of similarities between the reigning MVP in Allen and the Patriots’ QB.

“It’s a tremendous challenge being in the AFC East for four years,” Ulbrich said Wednesday. “Got very familiar with Drake, especially the last couple [years]. “He’s way better than I wanted him to be. He feels like a mini Josh Allen, like a younger Josh Allen in lot of ways.

“His mobility, his arm strength, the way he can take a game over with both facets of the game. So he’s going to be — he’s a problem.”

While Bill Simmons, Dan Orlovsky, and several other pundits have drawn parallels between Maye and Allen over the last year, Maye has started to make a case to be NFL MVP this season as the top catalyst for the Patriots’ breakout season in 2025.

After New England’s win over the Browns on Sunday, DraftKings had Maye tabbed with the third-best odds for NFL MVP honors, behind only Patrick Mahomes (+120) and Allen (+360).

So far this season, Maye has completed 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.

While Maye’s arm strength and mobility while scrambling out of the pocket draws plenty of parallels to Allen, the Patriots QB added earlier this month that his ties to the Bills signal-caller goes beyond their similar play styles.

“I got to know him through the same agency. I got to know him, and we share a lot of the same things. We like playing golf. He’s very down to earth; I like to say I’m down to earth. He’s a great player. Golly, it’s fun watching him,” Maye said of Allen. “He makes some plays every week that you’re like, ‘Man, that’s pretty cool.’