New England Patriots - NESN.com
Drake Maye has thrown his hat into the NFL MVP race with a strong start to the season. However, ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter isn’t prepared to include him in the conversation yet.
“I don’t see how he’s the MVP over Patrick Mahomes or Baker Mayfield,” Schefter said Tuesday on “WEEI Afternoons.” “I don’t see that right now. Puka Nacua. There are a lot of guys. My answer is no.”
Maye is closely trailing Mahomes and Mayfield in the MVP race. As of Wednesday, FanDuel Sports lists him with the fourth-shortest odds to win the award at +1000.
Schefter knows the NFL inside and out, but he’s jumping to an early conclusion by saying Maye can’t win the award.
If Maye leads a New England Patriots team that only won four games last season to an AFC East title, he’ll likely find himself in contention for MVP votes.
Maye’s been driving New England’s offense this season, especially as it struggles with its running game. The Patriots are averaging 91.5 rushing yards per game, ranking them 26th in the league.
The 23-year-old quarterback has a lot more riding on his shoulders than several other MVP candidates. There’s no doubt he can clinch the award if the Patriots manage to establish themselves as genuine contenders in the AFC.
