Fansided
Fansided

2024 NFL Draft: Is This QB Class Worth The Hype?

By Hunter Haas

Jan 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) in action during the game between the USC Trojans and the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) in action during the game between the USC Trojans and the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Drake Maye (UNC)

Caleb Williams hogs the spotlight at quarterback, but Drake Maye is not too far behind in these rankings. The Tar Heel standout is taller than Williams but mirrors many of the same traits that make them both worthy of early first-round selections.

Maye is best suited in a clean pocket, as he carves up defenses like a surgeon. The UNC quarterback uses several different arm angles as a passer and long strides to eat up yards as a runner. Impressively, Maye regularly left defenders in his dust by breaking countless tackles in space.

A majority of Maye’s issues come up when he is flushed out of the pocket. While the 6-foot-4 signal-caller is creative, his accuracy falls off a cliff when he rolls out. Maye exhibits sloppy footwork and leaves his body in jeopardy rather than sliding or throwing the ball away. He enters year two with a new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey at the helm, so hopefully, a fresh voice will help in development.

Best Trait: Deep Ball Accuracy
2024 NFL Draft Grade: Top 10 Pick

Home/NFL Draft