Drake Maye’s first three games have brought the kind of scrutiny that comes with being the quarterback in New England, and Thurman Thomas isn’t sugarcoating what he sees.
Ahead of Sunday’s Patriots-Bills matchup, the Pro Football Hall of Famer said Maye still looks like a young passer learning the league in real time. On “One Bills Live,” Thomas was asked about the quarterback’s early-season issues after New England’s 35-6 loss to Jacksonville, and he didn’t hesitate.
“I don't think he's grasped the NFL just yet,” Thomas said.
Thomas also pointed to Maye’s college background, arguing that he came into the league without the kind of seasoning some quarterbacks get from piling up more starts in college.
“He's not a groomed quarterback,” Thomas said while discussing Maye's limited starting experience in college.
The Hall of Fame running back also emphasized the pressure that comes with the job in Foxborough, a spot that has carried a heavy standard since Tom Brady left.
“There's a lot of pressure being the quarterback in New England,” Thomas said.
He tied that pressure to the current setup around Maye, specifically mentioning head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Thomas noted that McDaniels is working with a young quarterback while bringing the kind of system he used with Brady, which can be a lot to absorb for a player still finding his footing.
New England’s issues, though, aren’t limited to the quarterback alone. The Patriots have turned over a lot at receiver, and A.J.
Brown is currently on injured reserve. Thomas and the “One Bills Live” crew talked through how different the supporting cast looks now compared with last season.
Even with Maye’s rough start, Thomas wasn’t ready to write off the Patriots after three games. New England won 13 games last season, and the discussion pushed back against the idea that one ugly afternoon means the whole team has fallen apart.
That sets up Sunday’s trip to Buffalo, where the Bills are 3-0 after a 24-16 win over the Chargers. The Patriots are trying to avoid slipping to 1-3, and Thomas expects a better fight than the one they showed against Jacksonville.
And as always in this rivalry, the Bills know the Patriots well, and these divisional games rarely come easy.
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