Drake Maye – Quarterback – 21 years old – RS Sophomore – North Carolina
Height: 1m93
Weight: 104 kilos
Estimated position in the draft: top 5
NFL Comparison: Justin Herbert (Chargers)
The latest quarterback recently released from North Carolina, Drake Maye is an undeniably talented player. Announced as a top 5 pick for over a year, he is expected to be picked high in the draft. A Tar Heels quarterback, who wears number 10, potentially number 2 in the draft? Let's hope for Drake Maye that the shadow of Mitch Trubisky does not hang over his head.
Strong points
– Arm
– Ability to make all throws
– Physical qualities
The first thing NFL scouts look at in a quarterback is his arm. Good thing no QB in this draft class has an arm like Drake Maye's. This is its main quality. Powerful, capable of reaching receivers in depth, Maye is above all incredibly precise. He is able to find his teammate's hands in very tight windows, and put the ball where the defender cannot get it. All while alternating power and finesse.
However, Drake Maye is not just a passer. If he is not the best runner of this crop of quarterbacks, he is much more athletic than he seems. He's not a dual-threat quarterback, but he's more than capable of escaping when his pocket collapses. His athletic qualities allow him to extend plays, and therefore offer more possibilities to his teammates.
By leaving his pocket, Maye does not lose precision. If some quarterbacks only manage to throw with both feet firmly planted on the turf, this is not his case. This is what makes him so dangerous. His legs allow him to draw defenders towards him, which frees up his receivers. And since he is able to reach them almost wherever they are, he is formidable for opposing defenses.
Weak points
– Tendency to play the hero
– Keeps the ball too much
Drake Maye is a playmaker. He knows it, and he may have a tendency to abuse it. Certainly, he didn't have the same supporting cast at North Carolina that Caleb Williams had at USC, or Jayden Daniels had at LSU. But he has the annoying habit of playing the hero.
When a game is poorly started, when the pocket has collapsed or when he cannot find solutions, Drake Maye too often has the habit of keeping the ball rather than getting rid of it. This can sometimes end in a sack which can cause his offense to lose many yards. Other times, he will decide to throw the ball far at all costs. At best, the pass will be incomplete. But sometimes he gets intercepted during these hazardous passes, which can be costly. He will have to learn to channel himself in the NFL, and accept, sometimes, losing a game in order to move forward better afterwards.
Possible destinations
Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders
Overall, Drake Maye is a very complete quarterback without many flaws. Some might think he lacks the spark that could make him a special player, but he is more than complete. Drake Maye will undoubtedly be the starting quarterback of the team that selects him in the draft, from the first week.
It now seems unlikely that Maye will go lower than the top 3. Whether in Chicago, Washington or New England, Drake Maye will be the future starter of the attack. The hope of each of these franchises is to find their franchise quarterback during the draft, and Maye has the talent and qualities required to become one.
Seven years after the selection (and failure) of Mitch Trubisky with the second pick of the draft, a new North Carolina quarterback is expected in the heights of the draft. So, will Drake Maye erase the bad memory left by Trubisky with the Bears? Will he take over from another former Tar Heel, Sam Howell, with the Commanders? Or will he take the number 10 left vacant by the disappointment Mac Jones with the Patriots? Answer in the very first minutes of the next draft, without the slightest doubt.
