A recent video clip from a New England practice session shows rookie Drake Maye emulating one of the NFL's most acclaimed quarterbacks.
The third-overall draft pick rolled out to his left, eyes fixed on the hash marks. He pump-faked to freeze the lurking defensive back and completed a pass across his body to a receiver tip-toeing the sideline - a no-look move made famous by Chiefs quarterback sensation Patrick Mahomes.
"It was something I knew was going to look pretty sweet when I got home," Mahomes reminisced about his first viral no-look pass against Baltimore in 2019. The three-time Super Bowl champion has continued to baffle defenses with his signature deceptive move, inspiring Maye and others around the league.
"It's not like I mean to throw no-look passes. I think it kind of happens out of instinct. As I do it, I'm like, 'Dang, I didn't even mean to do that.'"
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If any rookie quarterback were likely to showcase Mahomes' advanced skillset, Maye would have been a smart bet. The North Carolina product enters the NFL after two seasons as a starter, where he racked up nearly 8,000 yards and demonstrated a mature skillset under center, combining his natural athleticism and strong arm with elite accuracy.
Maye was picked third overall in the Patriots' NFL Draft back in April, trailing behind quarter-backs Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. He will now face a battle to secure the sought-after starting position for New England against a host of competitors in their QB room.
What's more, ever since joining the team that saw the legendary Tom Brady build his seven Super Bowl-winning legacy, he's had the special privilege of being mentored by the legend himself.
"Every day of practice is important," Brady shared with Maye and other newbies recently. "You know why? Because when I was on the Patriots and we had 20 years of winning, every day was a big day. I treated a preseason game, I treated a regular-season game like it was the Super Bowl. So, when I got to the Super Bowl, it was just another day for me."
Maye's no-look pass stunned fans (Twitter)Patriots followers have been left impressed at the sight of Maye's spectacular trick, with one fan taking to social media to comment, "Our QB is truly one of a kind. Drake is worth the wait. LFG." A different tweet from a user compared him favourably to the former Pats QB Mac Jones, stating "Mac would never."
The former Alabama star and College Football Playoff champion was picked 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft as a direct successor to Brady and his two-decade legacy at New England, following the record-breaking passer's move to Tampa Bay. Jones' tenure in Foxborough started off on a high note, with 22 touchdowns and leading New England to 10 victories in his debut year.
However, a disastrous 2023 season led to the franchise cutting ties and sending the player to Jacksonville.
Maye's practice highlights hint at brighter days ahead for New England, as the Patriots managed a mere four wins last season, marking a 31-year low for the team. The Patriots' regular season kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 8 in Cincinnati against the Bengals.
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