In any other draft, Drake Maye would be the top quarterback. However, with Caleb Williams, Maye is relegated to playing second fiddle. While he has not been showered with as many awards, the North Carolina quarterback has impressed scouts with his build and his arm. He can throw it a mile with a flick of his wrist and is the more “traditional” quarterback prospect. What will he bring to an NFL team?
NFL Draft Profile: North Carolina QB Drake Maye
College Career Summary
Drake Maye was at North Carolina his freshman year, but Sam Howell was the clear starter. Once he left for the NFL, Maye stepped in for the 2022 season.
2022
2022 was the best season for Drake Maye. He completed 66.2% of his passes, racking up 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. While Maye isn’t known for his running ability, he did have 698 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. Despite his performance, the team struggled down the stretch and went 9-5 overall.
2023
There was a lot of hype about Drake Maye coming into the 2023 season. Some saw him as a dark horse Heisman candidate. Similar to Caleb Williams, his 2023 season wasn’t as good as 2022. He threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Maye did increase his rushing touchdowns (9) but only had 449 yards on the ground. The team went 8-5 overall as they once again faltered down the stretch.
Drake Maye’s Strengths
- Great deep thrower. Has the arm strength to get the ball downfield
- Operates well within the structure of an offense
- Demonstrates an ability to throw under pressure and still be accurate
- Superb accuracy all over the field
Drake Maye’s Weaknesses
- Often holds the ball too long
- Slow through progressions
- Prone to make risky decisions
NFL Player Comparisons
- Carson Palmer
- Justin Herbert
- Dante Culpepper
Rookie Outlook
Drake Maye will likely be a starter for the team that drafts him. While there is a chance a shocking move happens, Maye is on track to start week 1 for a team. Obviously, which team he goes to matters, but let’s assume Washington gets him, as they currently have the second-overall pick. Pairing Maye with Terry McLaurin, Brian Robinson, and Jahan Dotson looks good on paper. Sam Howell put up big stats for the Commanders last season. Regardless of what team he lands on, we could see big rookie numbers.
Fantasy Outlook
Drake Maye is a decent fantasy option at quarterback. He has enough of a dual-threat ability to increase his value beyond a pocket-passer. His big arm will also lead to some deep touchdown passes which helps your fantasy team a lot. The downside is his risky decisions. Interceptions are back-breaking in fantasy football, and if Maye struggles to limit the mistakes, he could be a fantasy dud. Take him and stash him in your dynasty league. Otherwise, take a late-round flyer and hope you’ve struck gold.
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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