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Drake Maye’s Super Bowl performance prompted a surprising comparison for Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
He did what Jayden Daniels couldn’t do, take his team to the Super Bowl in his first season as a starter, but the Washington Commanders needn’t regret their decision not to draft Drake Maye ahead of the New England Patriots.
That’s the verdict after Maye toiled through a nightmare performance to contribute to the Pats losing 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. He entered the game viewed by many as unlucky not to be named NFL MVP, but posted some career-worst numbers at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, February 8, so The Team 980’s Kevin Sheehan believes the Commanders can still be happy Daniels is their guy.
Sheehan put it simply, “Dominant defense by Seahawks. Terrible offense by Patriots. Drake Maye had a great 2nd season….in the regular season. His post-season was horrendous. He’s good and will get better, I’ll take Jayden.”
Dominant defense by Seahawks. Terrible offense by Patriots. Drake Maye had a great 2nd season….in the regular season. His post-season was horrendous. He’s good and will get better, I’ll take Jayden.
It’s a favorable comparison for Daniels, and there are compelling reasons why Sheehan has a point.
Drake Maye Saved Commanders Regret With Super Bowl Lowlights
Selecting Daniels one pick ahead of Maye in 2024 would’ve been easy to regret if the latter had thrived on football’s biggest stage. Instead, the Commanders were spared any blushes and recriminations by Maye taking six sacks, losing a fumble and throwing two interceptions, including a pick-six.
Those lowlights contributed to Maye posting “a 16.3 Total QBR in Super Bowl LX, his worst as a starter in his two NFL seasons,” according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, citing ESPN Research.
Another note on how dominant the Seahawks’ defense was tonight. Per ESPN Research, Drake Maye — who finished second in this year’s MVP voting — posted a 16.3 Total QBR in Super Bowl LX, his worst as a starter in his two NFL seasons.
Struggles on Super Bowl Sunday were merely the culmination of a statistically miserable postseason for Maye. He’d already stumbled through three victories powered more by a smothering Patriots defense.
Maye’s problems were summed up by these numbers from Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer: “In the last 10 years, there have been 33 QBs to make at least 3 starts in a given postseason. Drake Maye’s playoff performance among that sample ranks last, according to EPA per pass play. Shoulder and other factors. But he looked like a different guy over the last month.”
In the last 10 years, there have been 33 QBs to make at least 3 starts in a given postseason.
Drake Maye’s playoff performance among that sample ranks last, according to EPA per pass play.
Shoulder and other factors. But he looked like a different guy over the last month.
Stats as lowly as these put a fresh perspective on everything Daniels achieved as a rookie. They also make it easier for the Commanders to believe their would-be franchise quarterback still offers more upside than Maye.
Jayden Daniels Primed for Greater Things
Daniels finished one game short of the Super Bowl as the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he arguably did more with less than Maye. While the latter leaned on a defense ranked fourth in points and eights in yards, per Pro Football Reference, Daniels had no such luxury.
New England’s formidable unit features premium talents like powerful defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, along with shutdown cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Christian Gonzalez, but the Commanders ranked 18th in points two seasons ago.
Their offense also lacked as many playmakers as the Patriots, who supported Maye with dynamic running back duo Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, as well as All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
Daniels needs similar support, perhaps starting with the Commanders reuniting him with a college teammate. General manager Adam Peters should also consider offering ample free-agency dollars to the Seahawks’ newly minted Super Bowl MVP.
Putting some marquee skill-players around Daniels is a must, although arguably not as important as the Commanders finally beefing up their defense. Doing both those things would allow Daniels to rebound from a miserable second season undermined by durability issues.
He dealt with an injured hamstring and dislocated elbow, but there were also concerns about Daniels’ decision-making on the field. Those concerns will be mitigated by a stronger supporting cast, giving Daniels and the Commanders no reason to worry about any comparisons to Maye.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
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