NASHVILLE — Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux didn’t want to talk about his team’s leaky defense regressing in Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Titans, but he lit up when asked about Drake Maye.

“Man, that’s young Josh Allen 2.0, man,” Godchaux said Sunday.

Maye was far from perfect in Sunday’s loss. One turnover — a lost fumble midway through the fourth quarter — nearly caused the Patriots to lose, and another — a game-clinching interception in overtime — ended the game. But the Patriots finished the game with 295 total net yards, and Maye passed for 206 yards and scrambled for another 95. He was the Patriots’ entire offense on a day when the Patriots couldn’t get anything going in the run game.

Related Articles

Takeaways from Patriots’ heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to Titans

Jerod Mayo responds to ‘silly,’ ‘frustrating’ Patriots trade rumors

Patriots-Titans inactives: Kyle Dugger, two WRs out amid trade rumors

Patriots-Titans preview: Can Pats win in Tennessee to make it two in a row?

Jets linebacker fined for unpenalized hit that caused Drake Maye’s concussion

“He looks amazing. Sure, he had some plays that I’ll let Drake speak to that he’d like to have back, but man, I love watching him on the sideline. I tell the guys all the time he looks like Josh Allen 2.0, and I played Josh Allen in Miami his rookie year, and he didn’t look that good. And Josh Allen is a phenomenal player. He’s an MVP-type player, Madden cover, he deserves everything. He’s a great player, but he didn’t look like that his rookie year. Drake looks better than Josh his rookie year. I’ll let Drake speak more on that, but man … he looks amazing, especially when he runs the ball. I didn’t know the kid had burners like that. I’m excited to play with him and watch him the next couple years.”

Godchaux subscribes to the belief that Maye could attract players to want to play with him in New England.

The Patriots enter next offseason with over $100 million in salary cap space and desperately need more playmakers on offense.

“Absolutely,” Godchaux said. “Everybody wants to Josh Allen, everybody wants to play with Pat Mahomes. Soon, before you know it, people will want to play with Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams — he already got three good receivers in Chicago. That kid can play. He shows a lot of heart. I’m screaming on the sidelines, ‘Man, get down,’ but he keeps taking hits. He’s going to be a great player in this league.”

It was pointed out to Godchaux that Maye is 22 years old and the current youngest starting quarterback in the league. The veteran defensive tackle had no idea.

“We don’t give excuses for his age, but every game he’s getting better. I was disappointed when he got hurt in the Jets game, because I’d like to see him finish that game because he would have had a big game.”

It says a lot about Maye’s potential that even after a game in which he had two game-breaking turnovers, a player like Godchaux is still this excited about the future.