Former New England Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty made a surprising case for current Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to be ranked ahead of Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen during a recent appearance on ESPN's First Take.
Maye led his team to the Super Bowl last year, only to get blown away by the Seattle Seahawks, 29-13. Maye finished the game with 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 62.8% of his passes.
However, according to McCourty, the Pats' quarterback is already ahead of one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Allen because of one simple reason: he has led his team to an AFC Championship win, something Allen is yet to achieve in his storied career.
"Okay, all right. 73 wins. 73 wins. You know where they haven't won, though? In the AFC Championship game. Drake Maye has done that. This New England Patriots team has done that," McCourty said on First Take.
Maye's biggest accomplishment to date came in last season's AFC Championship Game, when he guided the Patriots past the Denver Broncos in difficult weather conditions. Although he posted a 58.8 passer rating and Denver was without starting quarterback Bo Nix after his Divisional Round injury, the victory gave Maye an accomplishment Allen is still chasing: an AFC Championship win.
McCourty's take immediately sparked debate given Allen's status as a former NFL MVP and one of the league's consensus top quarterbacks. Stephen A. Smith immediately criticized his colleague's argument.
"Oh, please. In a blizzard without Bo Nix to go up against," Smith said.
Weighing both quarterbacks' résumés
Although Allen is yet to reach the Super Bowl, he is widely regarded as one of the best players at his position. He won the league's MVP award back in 2024 and is one of the best playoff performers in the NFL since his arrival in 2018.
Maye, on the other hand, came into the league in 2024 as the third overall pick and has since established himself as a very good quarterback in the league. He led the Pats to a 14-3 record last year and was one win away from leading the Patriots to their seventh Super Bowl championship last year.
While Maye has enjoyed an impressive start to his NFL career, Allen remains one of the league's elite quarterbacks. Allen has established himself as one of the NFL's most productive postseason performers, and Buffalo's Super Bowl hopes continue to rest on his shoulders.
