Photo by Gregory Payan / AP Photos
Drake Maye finally got a high-end receiver, as the Patriots officially signed Stefon Diggs this weekend.
Stephen A. Smith and the rest of the First Take crew discussed this move and its potential implications for New England and for Diggs.
When discussing Diggs’s decision to come to the Pats, Stephen A. said, “I’m just wondering about Stefon Diggs… you go from Josh Allen to C.J. Stroud… to Drake Maye? You sure about that, bro?”
He continues, “No matter what you are as a receiver, it don’t mean a damn thing if the quarterback get get you the football.”
“Now, I’m not throwing that kind of shade on Drake Maye like the brother can’t play.”
You just did, Stephen A. But okay, continue.
“I’m just saying, there’s a difference between him and C.J. Stroud and Josh Allen.”
Addressing Stephen A.’s comments
Photo by George Walker IV / AP Photos
First of all, the nerve of Stephen A. to criticize Diggs for coming here when D.K. Metcalf went to the Steelers, who still don’t even have a quarterback.
Now, on the shots thrown at Drake Maye. It’s clear that Stephen A. didn’t watch a second of Patriots film from this past year with the way he’s speaking about New England’s young star.
To be fair, I can hardly blame him for that.
But to go on national television and act like C.J. Stroud, who took a noticeable step backward in his second year, is leaps and bounds better than 22-year-old Drake Maye?
Let’s give Stephen A. a reality check: Drake Maye is YOUNGER than both Cam Ward and Sheduer Sander, who are the top QB prospects in THIS year’s draft.
Drake Maye also started in less than 30 collegiate games with UNC while running an offensive far removed from a traditional NFL offense.
In his rookie year, Maye was given the worst offensive line in football, with a left tackle who could hardly line up correctly. He also had a wide receiver room with Keyshawn-effing-Boutte as his best receiver.
And with all of that going against him, Maye put together multiple perfances where he essentially carried the entire team on his back to even keep the Pats competitive in games.
Every player on offensive got noticeably better when Drake took over, and highlight reel plays like his Tennesse touchdown and the 40-yard dot to Boutte in Bufallo shoed that Maye could be one of the best players in the league with a real team behind him and some more seasoning.
Maye even managed to make the Pro Bowl roster. Granted, he was like the 6th option, but it’s still an impressive accomplishment nonetheless.
Maye, who has been compared to Josh Allen, is noticeably further along in his development than Josh was at his age.
To act like Stroud, who has had Tank Dell, Nico Collins, and even Diggs to throw to, is miles better than Drake is just foolish.
The bigger issue
Photo by Latrell Caton / Howard University
This take from Stephen A. highlights a broader issue for me. National talking heads like Stephen A. have little time to do adequate research before they make takes on teams/sports they are unfamiliar with.
This isn’t the first time that Stephen A. or any of his colleagues have made a completely misinformed take like this, and it won’t be the last.
Try listening to anyone at ESPN, other than Mad Dog, talk about baseball. Yikes.
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