Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Size:
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 223 pounds
Arm Length: 32”
Hand Size: 9”
Accomplishments:
Second-Team All-ACC (2023) • First-Team All-ACC (2022) • ACC Player of the Year (2022) • Maxwell Award Semifinalist (2022) • Walter Camp National Player of the Year Semifinalist (2022) • ACC Rookie of the Year (2022) • ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year (2022)
"Drake Maye is an outstanding prospect who has more room to grow and develop into a franchise NFL quarterback.”
Strengths:
Pocket maneuverability
Multi-speed pitcher
Pro-style QB
Multiple arm slots
Concerns:
Inconsistent lower-body mechanics
Tends to hold onto the ball
Average pocket presence
Risk taker
Film Analysis:
Drake Maye is a multi-speed pitcher. He can alter the pace and tempo of his throws based on the target window. He makes routine NFL throws at all three levels of the field. He has the arm strength to drive passes into tight windows. Maye’s arm talent gives his offense access to the entire field. His work in the quick passing game provides his receiving options the opportunity to gain yards after the catch. Maye’s touch and arc on passes are impressive. He does a good job layering passes over the middle of the field underneath defenders.
Maye is comfortable throwing from the pocket and on the move. I appreciate his ability to create second-reaction throws out of structure and outside the pocket. Maye handled the blitz impressively. He showcased the ability to get the ball into the voids left by the opposition in coverage. His rushing ability will keep defenses honest. They must account for him on every snap. He has some backyard football to his game. Maye uses his legs to keep plays alive while avoiding closing defenders before chucking it to the closest receiving option in his view.
Maye has to improve his willingness to check the ball quickly to his running backs as an outlet. He tends to get caught up with the hero ball by holding onto the ball and relying on his mobility to extend plays. Maye gets into trouble and brings pressure/sacks on himself at times. He would benefit from improving his pocket presence/feel to avoid rushers quicker as the pocket collapses. Maye’s feet can be sloppy which leads to poor ball placement. He can be heel-clicky at the top of his drops. His upper and lower bodies are not consistently synchronized. All of this has led to him spraying the football with inconsistent ball placement. He leans back and fade away on some throws, which is risky against NFL defenses.
NFL Projection: Maye is projected as a high-ceiling NFL starting quarterback. He thrives as a vertical/deep passer. His mobility creates opportunities to extend plays and open the playbook for the offensive coordinator. Maye must improve his mechanics and decision-making to reach his immensely high ceiling.
Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Pro Bowl Caliber
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: South Carolina (2023), Clemson (2023), NC State (2023), Duke (2023), Minnesota (2023), FAMU (2023), Notre Dame (2023), Clemson (2023), App St. (2023), Virginia Tech (2023)
