New England Patriots - NESN.com
Drake Maye’s ascent has garnered headlines throughout the NFL. Even an NFC player from a team that doesn’t face the New England Patriots this season fielded questions about the rising star.
The Chicago Bears selected Caleb Williams over Jayden Daniels and Maye last year. While viewed as a near-consensus choice at the time, the former USC standout hasn’t matched his peers’ early NFL success.
As the Bears prepare for a Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a reporter asked Williams if he’s paying attention to Maye’s second-year breakout. The 23-year-old responded by complimenting Maye and New England’s offense.
“Yeah, he’s been playing well,” Williams said during Wednesday’s press conference. “… He’s been playing on time. He believes in his guys, and they’re playing efficient football. Running the ball well, passing the ball well. That’s a good combo to have.
“And then, having him go out there and make explosive plays, scramble plays and things like that. Kudos to him and them over there.”
Maye has forced his way into the MVP conversation with an NFL-leading 75.2 completion percentage. His 118.7 quarterback rating only trails Lamar Jackson, who missed three games with a hamstring injury.
On the other hand, Williams has a more modest 90.2 quarterback rating and 61.9 completion percentage. Yet he steered the Bears to four straight wins before their Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Williams isn’t comparing his early-career results to Maye or Daniels, who guided the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie.
“I don’t compare,” Williams said. “It’s just different situations and different coaches, different years, different development with different players, different playing styles and all these different things. You start trying to compare stats and stuff, and you lose sight of where you’re at and what you need to focus on. I’m happy for all the guys in the draft class.”
