SPORTS OPINION
Every NFL season has its sweethearts—the players who become good seemingly out of nowhere. People love to root for the underdog: that sixth round pick who suddenly made it big, the undrafted free agent with raw potential, that 29 year-old veteran who suddenly figured it all out, or the draft bust who proves the haters wrong.
Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones is fitting that narrative perfectly. At the moment, I’m bombarded with “Indiana Jones” edits (videos showcasing the QB’s newfound success in Indiana) and Daniel Jones truthers trying to convince me the Giants were the problem all along. While in their organization, Jones was fumbling, throwing interceptions, and had a 1-16 record in primetime games.
In the first three weeks of this season, we saw a Daniel Jones unlike any we’ve ever seen. He didn’t throw a single interception, completed over 70% of his passes, and led the Indianapolis Colts to an unlikely 3-0 record. People were proclaiming him the savior of a bumbling Colts franchise. Raiders coach Pete Carroll himself has hyped up Jones as “the real deal.”
I’m happy for Jones and his success, but is he really all that? I’d say no. First, his early challengers were the Dolphins (currently 1-3, and with their only win against the Jets, and does that even count?), the Broncos (2-2, but with a scuffling Bo Nix), and the Titans (0-4, Cam Ward put the team’s success pretty accurately in a statement I don’t think this newspaper will let me reproduce). In those games, Jones went 3-0, but he only threw one touchdown per game.
He has also rushed for three, but with a 20-yard longest rush of the season and a yards per carry of three flat, it seems like Jones capitalizes on good field position rather than demonstrates burning speed.
Finally, his receivers are consistently leading the league in separation, cushion, and YAC, with Tyler Warren top 10 in all three metrics. Jones isn’t suddenly some unbelievable MVP; he’s just a thriving system quarterback, and there’s no shame in that.
Indeed, against a stronger team (the Rams) Jones was possessed by what appears to be the spirit of the Daniel Jones we all knew and everyone but Giants fans loved. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns, gained under six yards per attempt, and didn’t spread the field all that much.
When his receivers don’t get separation, and the opposing team is defensively stiffer, it looks like Indiana Jones isn’t as great as his super-fans claim.
This year’s real breakout QB is Drake Maye. Maye got off to a rough start in the first game of the season and people worried this year would be more of his past performance. Last year, he flashed top-end talent, but disappointed expectations with throws that were dubious at best and stupid if we’re being honest (see his throw against the Titans in OT last year).
Yet after a mediocre opening game against the Raiders, he has completed 79% of his passes, a league leading number and the fourth highest over a three game stretch in NFL history.
Maye currently sits atop the league in completion percentage, sixth in yards, eighth in touchdowns, tied for second in terms of fewest interceptions thrown, sixth in yards per pass, sixth in yards per game, sixth in yards per attempt, sixteenth in rushing touchdowns (including RBs), and leads his team in rushing.
This has all been achieved with a team with a bottom quarter offensive line, a receiving core of Kayshon Boutte (the receiver with the third least cushion in the league), an injured and recovering wide receiver (Stefon Diggs), and Demario Douglas, who I may well have forgotten existed with his performances.
Drake Maye is making the Patriots’ season. He even had a reception this year from his own pass! Last year, we saw the Maye who could become something great only in flashes. This year, we are seeing the Drake Maye who is fully and undisputedly a top-five quarterback in the league.
While I wish Daniel Jones (and all who had to suffer the Giants’ organization), the best, the hype about him is, frankly, a fad. I think he could be a decent QB in the league, but the MVP hype will be gone in four weeks, and you can quote me on that.
Drake Maye stepped into an organization in disrepair, and he seems to be fixing it. If he keeps these stats up, and continues to develop, he could rule the league for a long time. So, if you are a fan looking for a bandwagon to jump on, or a player to put your faith in, look no further than Drake Maye.
