FOXBORO — Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt wasn’t quite as flippant as head coach Jerod Mayo when asked to compare his own rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, to Bills QB Josh Allen.

Mayo simply said that Allen is an MVP favorite and Maye is a rookie. Van Pelt does see some similarities between the two quarterbacks.

“I hate to make comparisons as a coach,” Van Pelt said. “It’s not fair to either player. You see similar qualities. Obviously, the ability to throw the ball down the field, ability to make plays with his legs. Both are very good at that. Obviously, a lot of age gap there and experience gap. But you do see similar qualities that is for sure.”

Maye is far ahead of where Allen was as a rookie, so it does seem fair to draw comparisons between the two players given their size, athleticism and ability to make plays with their arms and legs.

Maye has completed 68.5% of his passes for 1,898 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season while rushing 42 times for 359 yards with two touchdowns in 10 games with nine starts.

Allen is completing 64.4% of his passes for 3,395 yards with 25 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing 91 times for 484 yards with 11 touchdowns in 14 starts.

The Patriots would be very pleased with Maye’s progress if he too is in the MVP conversation by Year 3, like Allen was. Year 7 is when Allen might finally take the award home.