Jerod Mayo gives Drake Maye major compliment when comparing Patriots QB to Justin Herbert

FOXBORO — Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has had moments when he’s probably revealed too much to the media, but he played it smart for the second straight week when asked to compare his rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, to some of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.

Last week, it was Josh Allen as the Patriots got set to take on the Bills in a losing effort. Now, the Patriots are getting ready to face the Chargers, who have Pro Bowl passer Justin Herbert at quarterback, on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

“For me, it’s probably too early to tell,” Mayo said when asked if he sees similarities between Maye and Herbert. “What I would say is, again, I don’t want to get into the comparison thing. I think Drake is on track to be a very special player in this league, and hopefully we all get a chance to see it.”

Herbert, like Maye, is a mobile quarterback with strong accuracy and a big arm.

Herbert, in his current stage of development, has been better than Maye at protecting the football. He has just three interceptions and six fumbles this season, while Maye has 10 interceptions and eight fumbles in five fewer starts.

Maye is more dangerous with his legs than Herbert, however. Herbert set a career-high in rushing yards in 2021 with 63 carries for 302 yards. Maye already has 389 yards on just 48 carries this season. Only four of those carries were designed runs.

Maye sees a kindred spirit in Herbert.

“First off, he seems like a great leader,” Maye said. “I think you see that and you see a little bit of the same personality as me, more quiet and earn the guy’s respect. I think you see him coming out more and more, the stuff you see at the Chargers.

“He means a lot to that offense. You can see what he does making plays with his feet, but I think the biggest thing is he’s just consistent. He doesn’t turn the ball over and he just does a good job of moving the football and finding ways to win.”

Maye was joined at podium by tight end Hunter Henry on Tuesday. Maye asked Henry about Herbert since the tight end and Chargers QB spent the 2020 season together in Los Angeles.

So, what did Henry tell Maye about Herbert?

“I mean, Justin’s a stud, man. Everybody sees the stuff he does on the field,” Henry said. “I think it’s been cool for me. I was there with him as a rookie and to just watch from afar, the growth that he’s had. I mean, he was killing it his rookie year, but just the growth that he’s continued to have.

“He has all the tools, strong arm and makes every throw. He’s mobile, he can extend plays, he can run. He just presents a lot of challenges for defense. He’s a special, special player. It’s always fun. He’s a high-level competitor that loves to compete and loves to win and you got to love him going against a guy like that.”

If there is one thing Maye could learn from Herbert, it would be his ball security.

Mayo said he sees Herbert’s lack of turnovers as giving the 9-6 Chargers a chance to win.

Maye doesn’t want to tamp down his aggressive play-style to reduce turnovers, but does see a way to limit them in the future.

“I don’t think it’s really that I’m scrambling outside the pocket and heaving one up. I think it’s within the offense,” Maye said. “I think some unfortunate things have happened with the turnovers, and I think some of them definitely fall on me. I think there’s definitely a way we need to cut down turnovers. That starts with me protecting the football and throwing it incomplete or throwing it in the dirt or little things like that.

“I’m still going to be aggressive. That’s the way I play and I think it’s in the long run going to be good for us.”

Maye made a bad throw on an interception in Sunday’s loss to the Bills, but two of his receivers were knocked to the ground on the play when the ball was in the air. He’s also had multiple interceptions bounce off his receivers hands this season.

Still, Maye’s turnover-worthy-play rate ranks 10th-highest this season at 3.5%. Herbert’s career-high turnover-worthy play rate is 2.4% in 2020, when he was a rookie, and 2021.