Drake Maye’s sophomore season in the NFL hasn’t just been good - it’s been the kind of breakout year that puts a young quarterback on the fast track to stardom. At just 23 years old, Maye has already earned his second Pro Bowl nod and led the New England Patriots to a 14-3 record and the No. 2 seed in the AFC. And now, with MVP buzz swirling around him, the comparisons to all-time greats are starting to roll in - including one from legendary play-by-play announcer Joe Buck.
Appearing on NBC Sports Boston’s Next Pats Podcast, Buck dropped a name that carries serious weight in NFL circles: Peyton Manning. Now, to be clear, Buck wasn’t talking about playing style - Maye and Manning are very different quarterbacks in that regard. But what stood out to Buck was Maye’s presence, his poise, and the way he carries himself - especially for someone so young.
“He’s 23 years old and just phenomenal,” Buck said. “When he was on our production call, he hung up, and I was like, ‘Something about him reminds me of Manning.
I don’t know what it is, maybe the Southern accent?’ Just his demeanor, to be a 23-year-old, just kind of blew me away.”
That’s the kind of intangible you can’t coach - the ability to command a room, lead a huddle, and stay composed under pressure. And when you combine that with the numbers Maye is putting up, it’s easy to see why people are taking notice.
Let’s talk about those numbers. Maye led the league in completion percentage this season - a stat that speaks volumes about his accuracy and decision-making.
He threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, and added another 450 yards and four scores on the ground. That dual-threat ability has added a new dimension to the Patriots’ offense, and it’s a big reason they’ve surged back into contender status.
When you line up Maye’s age-23 season next to Manning’s, the parallels are striking - even if the eras and styles are different. Manning’s second year in the league (also at age 23) saw him throw for 4,135 yards and 26 touchdowns.
It was the season that put him on the map as a future Hall of Famer. Maye’s numbers are right there - and he’s doing it in a league that’s faster, more complex, and more demanding than ever.
Of course, we’re still talking about early days here. Manning went on to become a 14-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time All-Pro, a two-time Super Bowl champion, and a five-time MVP.
That’s a mountain of hardware, and Maye’s just starting his climb. But Buck’s comments speak to something deeper than stats - the sense that Maye has it.
That rare combination of talent, leadership, and composure that separates the good from the great.
The Patriots have found their guy. And if this season is any indication, Drake Maye isn’t just a rising star - he might be on his way to becoming a franchise cornerstone for years to come.