Drake Maye is considered one of the three best quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he should hear his name called within the first five picks.
While Maye might not have the same athleticism as fellow top quarterback prospect Jayden Daniels, he still showed plenty of ability to make plays with his feet in college.
Drake Maye’s North Carolina Pro Day Performance
Maye didn’t participate in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, or the shuttle at the NFL Scouting Combine or his Pro Day, but he did have a 30-minute, scripted passing performance at North Carolina’s Pro Day.
Drake Maye Pro Day 👀 pic.twitter.com/t2bvKe0pC3
— The League Winners (@LeagueWinnersFB) March 28, 2024
How Fast Is Maye?
NFL Draft Buzz reports that Maye ran a 4.60-second 40-yard dash.
In comparison to current NFL quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson ran an unofficial time of 4.34 seconds in Louisville’s “Speed Day,” Josh Allen‘s 4.76-second 40-yard dash hasn’t stopped him from rushing for 3,611 yards and 53 touchdowns in six seasons, and Patrick Mahomes is known for his improvisation but had a 40-yard dash time of 4.80 seconds.
MORE: Fastest QB 40-Yard Dash Times in NFL Combine History
How Old Is Maye?
Maye was born Aug. 30, 2002, and is the youngest of four brothers. He comes from a family of athletes.
Like is a former Tar Heels basketball star, Cole was a pitcher for the 2017 national champion Florida Gators, and Beau also played basketball at UNC.
The youngest of four, Maye grew up friends with Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph, per The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt.
Maye’s Latest Scouting Report
Maye was compared to Philip Rivers by a mutual friend of both Rivers and former Duke and current New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
“That was my goal,” Maye said. “My play style is kind of cool, calm, and collected. I wanted to let people hear me … Even in the interviews, they mentioned, ‘Hey, you seem like you’re in the zone before the game. You don’t really say much.’ Getting to see that side of me in the locker room, in meetings, and at practice was really what I wanted to accomplish. So hearing that really makes me feel good.”
Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings has Maye as the best quarterback of the 2024 draft class.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Drake Maye
“Maye actively uses his eyes to freeze DBs, has an understanding of how to open the field at his will, and has the rocket arm to take advantage,” Cummings wrote. “And he can also multitask and manage space in the pocket while processing the field.
“Maye bears some similarity to former Oregon Ducks and current Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert. He’s a QB who doesn’t always rely on his athleticism stylistically, but has the high-end overarching tools to be a passer who elevates his squad and creates off-script, while also operating at a high level within the offensive structure.
“Maye has all of the qualities of a franchise QB. But not only that, he’s one of the best QB prospects to come out over the past few cycles, rivaling names like Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, and C.J. Stroud. He should be in the mix for No. 1 overall — and he’d be my pick.”
Maye was a two-year starter for the Tar Heels, taking over his redshirt freshman season. He passed for 4,321 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2022 on a 66.2% completion rate. Maye followed that up with a 63.3% completion rate in 2023, passing for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
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