NFL personnel share draft warnings about Drake Maye

NFL personnel detailed why some have North Carolina Tar Heels' Drake Maye ranked third or even fourth among quarterback prospects in this year's draft class for a piece published by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday.

"Huge upside, but way more of a project than he appears to be," one unnamed NFL coordinator told Fowler about Maye. "Footwork all over the place, same with his eyes. Kind of just makes plays off raw talent and athleticism. Thought he would be much more polished."

It seemed in March there was a realistic chance that the Washington Commanders could make Maye the draft's second pick assuming the Chicago Bears take USC star Caleb Williams first overall. However, Washington more recently has been linked with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels. Some, such as CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, believe the New England Patriots could make McCarthy the draft's third pick if both Williams and Daniels are off the board at that time. 

ESPN analysts Dan Orlovsky and Mel Kiper Jr. are among those who think Maye needs to sit and learn about life in the NFL as a rookie. Retired player and current analyst Merril Hoge has said he "wouldn’t draft" Maye in the first round because the quarterback "is the kind of player that will get you fired." 

One "high-ranking NFL personnel man" insisted while speaking with Fowler that Maye "has the most upside of everybody" even if the North Carolina product "does need some time" to develop as a future starter. 

"There's major ability there," that personnel man added about Maye. "I worry that if you take him and you don't have a supporting cast and a good offensive line or receivers and he has to play right away, he will struggle early."

One coach said he has "a 50-play cut-up of [Maye] dropping back, seeing an open window and taking off to run." Such film could be enough for some evaluators to drop Maye beneath Daniels and McCarthy on draft boards. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Maye as the betting favorite at -130 odds to be the third choice on the night of April 25. For what it's worth, New England could take Maye at pick No. 3 and let him grow as a backup while veteran Jacoby Brissett starts throughout the 2024 season.