Prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, Tim Hasselbeck called Drake Maye “about as perfect of a prospect" he’s seen during his 15 years at ESPN.
It was seen as a hot take by some, but the former NFL quarterback’s proclamation looks pretty good now as Maye — who was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2023 — is having a 2025 season that’s put him in the MVP conversation.
“The hot takes aren’t really me,” Hasselbeck said on “The Dan Patrick Show.” “That’s not really what I’ve done over the last 18 years or so. So I appreciate the victory lap. I usually don’t get those. I hear when I’m wrong a lot.”
Hasselbeck went on to explain why he felt strongly about Maye.
“I think what I saw was, the physical tools were just obviously there. That was a no-brainer, ” he said. “There are other things about him, just in terms of his make-up.
“I had the benefit of calling Carolina games over multiple years and being able to meet with Drake,” Hasselbeck added. “And so, when you can sit with somebody and say, ‘OK, why did that happen or what did you see here?’ That tells you way more than just watching somebody’s film and making an assessment on him.”
Maye has taken a big step as New England’s quarterback and leader. His 73.2 quarterback rating ranks second, and his 2,836 yards is first in the NFL.
“From my conversations with him, it was like, this guy totally gets it,” Hasselbeck said. “Gets everything about playing the position and what it would be like to have to be the leader of a franchise.”
The Patriots are 9-2 and sit atop the AFC East standings. While some believe their record has more to do with their schedule than actually being a good team, there is no denying Maye’s growth on the field.
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