Before this season played out, not many thought Drake Maye would surpass or even match the greatness his draft classmate Jayden Daniels displayed during his rookie season in 2024. The Patriots QB had only 2,276 passing yards and 15 TDs with 10 INTs in 13 games last year. The narrative around Maye has completely shifted in 2025.
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In 15 games, he has not only steadied the Patriots, who are trying to find their post-Tom Brady identity, but he has also outperformed several established stars across the league. With 3,947 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, a league-best 70.9% completion rate, and just eight interceptions, Maye has been the engine behind New England’s 12-3 record and their grip on the AFC East race.
That kind of production earns respect. In Maye’s case, it has earned him conviction from one of football’s most opinionated evaluators, Jon Gruden.
The former Super Bowl-winning head coach has been effusive in his praise of Maye all season. But his latest comments may be the most telling yet.
Veteran journalist Ryen Russillo asked Gruden a simple question while on Barstool Sports: How many AFC quarterbacks would he take over Drake Maye right now?
“I wouldn’t want anybody over Drake Maye… I’m being honest with you,” Gruden said flatly. Then, when a taken aback Russillo floated Allen as a possible exception, Gruden once again didn’t hesitate.
Allen, he acknowledged, is “a freak of nature.” But even then, he admitted he would be “hard-pressed to trade” Maye for anyone, lauding the Patriots quarterback’s age, growth curve, and command of the offense.
The former Buccaneers HC went on to note that 2025 is effectively Maye’s first season operating in a system that fully utilizes his football IQ. In North Carolina, Maye thrived in an RPO-heavy structure, but Gruden believes he was rarely given full autonomy pre-snap. Under OC Josh McDaniels in Foxborough, that has changed.
“What he’s doing with Josh McDaniels is phenomenal. He’s going to break some records that Tom Brady never even attained. And he’s only in his first year in this system,” Gruden added.
“How many guys in the AFC would you want over Drake Maye?” –@ryenarussillo
“I wouldn’t want anybody over Drake Maye” –@BarstoolGruden
“Even Josh Allen?” –@ryenarussillo
“You could slap me if I had to take anybody over Drake Maye” –@BarstoolGruden pic.twitter.com/Ajy6LDe2xi
— Viva La Stool (@VivaLaStool) December 22, 2025
This isn’t the first time Gruden has raved about Maye. Back in November, he had already labeled the Patriots star “one hell of a young quarterback” after watching him in person. He praised Maye’s poise while under pressure, his willingness to throw hot, and perhaps most importantly, his ability to handle adversity.
Gruden also said that he evaluates quarterbacks by how they respond to misery, a trait he first noticed in Maye during post-loss press conferences at North Carolina. But still, are all these intangibles enough to place the 23-year-old over the reigning MVP? Well, the stats do support Gruden’s praise this time.
This season, Allen has matched Maye with 25 passing touchdowns but trails him in efficiency, completing 69.6% of his throws with 10 interceptions. The Bills quarterback’s rushing impact, however, remains elite (552 yards and 12 scores). But Maye has been more precise, more controlled, and more consistent within structure.
This reflects in the record of their respective teams. The Patriots sit at 12-3, while the Bills are close behind at 11-4. Head-to-head, the rivals split their two meetings this season, each winning once.
In the MVP market, the perception gap is significant. Maye sits second behind Matthew Stafford at +180, while Allen has drifted to +2500. These odds only reinforce Gruden’s point. Allen’s physical brilliance is undeniable, but Maye’s command, growth, and ceiling make him the quarterback he would build around today.
