Rob Gronkowski Makes Bold Drake Maye Claim Ahead of Caleb Williams Showdown

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has made his pick in the debate between Drake Maye and Caleb Williams.

With the Patriots preparing to face the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, Gronkowski appeared on "Up & Adams" with Kay Adams and was asked which quarterback he would rather have. Although he acknowledged that both young signal-callers landed in favorable situations, he ultimately gave Maye the edge.

"If I had to choose a quarterback, this is tough, this is tough, it really is, but I'm gonna go with Drake Maye," Gronkowski said.

The four-time Super Bowl champion explained that Maye's throwing and ability to process defenses helped separate him from Williams. He also believes the Patriots quarterback has plenty of room to develop.

"I just like the touch on his ball," Gronkowski said. "And I feel like at the end, Drake Maye would be, for me as a player, he would be the ideal quarterback."

Williams has his own strengths, and Gronkowski made sure to acknowledge the situation surrounding the Chicago quarterback. He praised Bears head coach Ben Johnson for landing in a favorable spot with Williams, noting that an offensive system must fit the quarterback running it.

Still, Gronkowski believes Maye has the advantage heading into Thursday's matchup.

The Patriots and Bears enter the contest with identical 4-2 records, setting up a notable meeting between two of the top quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams was selected first overall, while New England took Maye with the third pick.

Maye and Williams first met as rookies in November 2024, when New England secured a 19-3 victory in Chicago. The Patriots recorded nine sacks in that game, making it a difficult afternoon for Williams and the Bears' offense.

Their next meeting offers both quarterbacks an opportunity to show how far they have progressed since their rookie seasons. Gronkowski has made his preference clear, but Thursday's game will give Maye and Williams another chance to make their cases on the field.